MANCHURIA’S EMPEROR

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1931, Page 7

MANCHURIA’S EMPEROR

RESTORATION CONSPIRACY | JAPANESE INVOLVED [times cables.] (Recd. Nov. 14, 11.30 a.m.) i LONDON, November 13The “Times’s”, Pekin correspondent ■ states that Foreign Legations are investigating the reports that exEmperor Hsuantung was smuggled out of Tientsin by Japanese officers, and taken to Dairen, in pursuance of a plan to restore him as Emperor of Manchuria. It is reported that the Manchu Court robes were taken to Mukden, where the old Imperial flags are seen. Foreign official dispatches confirm the Chinese reports of fighting at Nonni River, but state the main bodies which were yesterday two days apart, had not yet come into contact, though several casualties have occurred on both sides. CLASH AT TSITISHAR [ SHANGHAI, November 13. Reports have been received of a Chinese Jap' clash at Tsitishar, following the Japanese ultimatum to Keilungkiang, the governor, to quit the city. The engagement lasted three hours, and is believed to be unfinished as the Chinese general is despatching a strong force of crack cavalry, to attack the Japanese flank. Jap residents in Manchile, on the Manchurian and Siberian border, in view of the increasing gravity of the situation, are leaving the city.

JAP-CHINESE RIVAL CLAIMS. GENEVA, November 12. In connection with the China-Ja-pan dispute, there has been a further documentary battle. Five Chinese notes have been delivered. They request Britain immediately to intervene so as to prevent serious developments in Tsitsihar, where, to-day, General Honjo (Japanese Commander) has allegedly issued an ultimatum to the Chinese, demanding their instant evacuation.

The Chinese notes allege that Japanese, armed with a machine gun, seized the Funchowan Anthracite Colliery, which the Chinese request to be returned to the lawful owners. China also asserts that the Japanese are forging land deeds and mining licenses in Mukden and in Kirin in favour of their nationals; whereby two thousand Chinese landowners have suffered.

Dr. Sze announces that a Chinese Commission, under Dr . Wellington Koo, has been established to take over the territory that Japan has been asked to eyacuate, and in which the best disciplined troops will be used to protect the Japanese. China’s reply to M. Briand maintains that the situation is more dangerous and exasperating daily owing to Japan’s alleged acts of aggravation. The Chinese Government would welcome the dispatch of neutral observers to-the scene of Japanese activities. The Japanese have sent a lengthy communique to the League, declaring that safeguards for life aud property are essential in the railway zone in Manchuria, owing to 85,000 Chinese bandits, who are deserters, burning, plundering, ravaging, and massacreing foreigners and Chinese throughout the country. The Japanese state that three Japanese and 25 Koreans have been carried off as hostages, and that 96 Chinese;have been killed, and 216 carried off.