ANGLO-U.S.A. CO-OPERATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1937, Page 7

ANGLO-U.S.A. CO-OPERATION

PANAY ATTACK SEQUEL NEW FORCE FOR PEACE [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, December 28. “If the Christmas season has seen a perceptible .relaxation of the diplomatic tension that welcome effect may be attributed in no little way to the harmonious attitude and action of the British and American Governments,” says the “Daily Telegraph ’ in a leading article. Describing as significant the editorial comment in ' the “New York Times,” which urges parallel British and American roads toward? peace, the “Daily Telegraph” adds: — “Such a declaration is no less welcomed and reciprocated in Great Britain, because there is no thought that such parallel action would be used by either party to pull the other’s chestnuts from the fire.” The “News-Chronicle” considers the “New York Times” article so remarkable, and its significance so great, that it reproduces it in full with editorial comment.

“We entirely agree,” the “Daily Herald” says, “that present now in the international situation is a new force on the side of peace. It is co-operation between Great Britain and the United States. Yet one thing that will kill this co-operation stone dead is the failure of the British and American trade negotiations through the insistence of sectional interests here upon the maintenance of big tariffs. Another would be Great Britain’s failure to honour her principles and obligations under the Covenant of the League of Nations.” “The Times” in a leading article says: “The Japanese Government has rounded off a fortnight of strenuous apologies by presenting the American Government with a Note on the sinking of the Panay, which repeats the earlier expressions of regret, and goes on to say at some length that it was ‘all a mistake.” It cannot be said that the Japanese explanations, although always plausible, and sometimes obviously true, are consistently convincing. The tone of the American acceptance was chilly enough to dispel whatever Japanese hopes there may be that any future incident, will only have to be called ‘an accident’ to be liquidated. After this the militarists, however lightly they may regard the pledged word of the Government they serve, hardly dare tread on American toes.

“The significant point of the Emperor’s declaration to the Diet —‘Our armies are enhancing their prestige at home and abroad’ —is not that he says what is patently untrue about home opinion. It would be ridiculous to suppose that with the launching of a ruthless war of aggression all ideals, all .enlightenment, and all wisdom have suddenly ceased to exist in Japan.” . „ . The “Manchester Guardian, in a leading article says: “The sinking Of the Panay may have been settled as a diplomatic incident, but it may also be remembered in history as a. turning point in the development of American foreign policy. Mr. Roosevelt’s speech at Chicago met with little response. Nothing had then occurred to shock the American people to his realisation of the danger, but the message in that speech, if repeated to-day, would have a very different response, and it is possible that it will be different again, in a few weeks, when in every town and village of the Middle West the film depicting the bombing of the Panay-has been shown. Mr. Roosevelt will know how to take advantage of this lively emotion, but it is unlikely that he will concern himself only with American inetrests.”

GOOD FAITH DOUBTED.. (Recd. December 29, 8 a.m-) NEW YORK, December 28. The “New York Herald-Tribunte,” in an editorial states: We still have good reasons to doubt any change in the relative positions of the Japanese militarists and' the Government. One reason is the effort of the authorities to keep the Japanese people in ignorance of the atrocious features of the incident, and the character of the settlement. The people are not told of Mitsunami’s recall. The official American version of the bombing was suppressed by all except one minoi publication at Tokio, therefore we must continue to wonder what the Japanese assurances are worth.

NO SECRET AGREEMENT. WASHINGTON, December 28. The Secretary of State (Mr. Cordell Hull) denied a report that a secret American-Japanese agreement lay behind the settlement of the Panay incident. He said that he was not ready to comment on the regulations imposed by the Japanese military authorities on foreigners in China.

PANAY FILMS. HONOLULU, December 27. The Pan American Clipper, carrying films of the Panay bombing, left for San Francisco to-day. The films are expected in New York on Wednesday, and will be distributed to theatres immediately.

A message from Washington says that the United States Government has decided to maintain a “hands-off” policy towards the showing of the Panay films, refraining from censorship even by suggestion.

SUBMARINES REPORTED

NEW YORK, December 28.

Sensational rumours circulated in naval circles about an alien flotilla of submarines which has been operating off the southern Californian coast are reported in the “Daily News,” which adds that the navy sent out seaplanes to scout for them. However, the navy discredits the reports, which are described as entirely unfounded. FIRING ON BRITISH SHIPS JAPANESE EXPLANATION ’ LONDON, December 28. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” says that the Japanese reply to the British Note will claim that when the Japanese battery fired on the Ladybird, the visibility was extremely poor. The Japanese troops had moved up rapidly from Shanghai, and, accord-

ing to the Japanese case, knew nothing of the river or its shipping. The Japanese unit commanders assumed that all foreign ships had left the battle zone. It will be suggested that the circumstances prove that the attacks on British ships were errors committed in the heat of battle. It will be frankly admitted that.mistakes .were made.

TOKIO, December 28..

Cabinet approved the reply to Britain, whereon Mr. Hirota reported "to the Emperor. Later he handed to Sir R. Craigie what is believed to comply with requests for s an apology, indemnities, and guarantees of non-recurren'cet The delay in publishing the Japanese reply to regarding H.M.S. Ladybird has caused surprise. It is thought possible that it was held back so that the Army statement could be issued. It is also considered-possible that there ard 'differences between the Note and the Army explanation.

JAP, ARMY STATEMENT.

TOKIO, December 28.

Mr. Hirota has handed Sir R. Craigie the Japanese reply to the British note on the H.M.S. Ladybird incident. Simultaneously, the Foreign Office announced that the contents .will not ba released to-night. The date; of release was not announced. Those in well-informed circles believe that the. reply is similar to that handed to America regarding the Panay, although the delay in publishing the note caused some circles to surmise that it contains matter hitherto not revealed. After Mr. Hirota. had-handed over the Japanese reply to Britain, the Army issued a statement that the Japanese were unaware of the presence of foreign vessels in the Yaiigtse. They saw, on December 11, ten vessels going upstream. The Commander, believing them to be Chinese,., ordered the troops to fire, but the distance was too great. A detachment then marched all night, and arrived at Wuhu on the morning of December 12. They saw four steam ers at anchor, belching smoke, and formed, the’ opinion that this was an attempt to put up a smokescreen. The Commander ordered, the gunners to fire, and saw shells.;, strike the first and second 'ships. Those behind them sailed down-stream. One of the two ships hit moved towards the Japanese forces on the river bank. Thereupon the Japanese Commander identified it, and ordered them to cease fire. Meantime, the Japanese saw six steamers behind the river delta, .and came to the conclusion that they were British ships, hiding and using smoke-screens, thus aiding the retreating Chinese. Officers from.H.M.S'. Bee> later landed, and had a discussion with the Japanese Commander, who apologised, and agreed not to fire on British ships in future.

, NAVY’S REPORT. (Received December 29, 2 p.m.) TOKIO, December'2B. Captain Kondo, at the instance of the Navy Minister, handed the British Naval Attache, Captain Rawlings,-, an explanation of the bombing of, the gunboats Scarab and Cricket, -and -British merchantmen. -rrNEW BRITISH ADMIRAL [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, December 28. The Admiralty announces the appointment of : Vice-Admiral Sir Percy Noble as Commander-in-Chief'in China, in succession to Admiral Sir Charles Little. «• • .. . ON VARIOUS FRONTS JAPAN’S DETERMINATION. : TOKIO, December 28. The Diet, before adjourning for the New Year recess, passed a vote of thanks to the Japanese forces operating in China. ‘ Both - Houses also, adopted the Addresses from the Throne and the reply to the Einperor’s speech. ' . ' / • - : They'recorded the “grim determination” of Japan to attain “the ultimate objective of the punitive expedition against China.”

CHINESE PREPARATIONS.

SHANGHAI, December 28,

The Chinese are busily preparing an ambitious counter-offensive, which will be launched-in a. mojuth or. two, according to official, statements. Jtj is claimed that the morale -of- troops-has - been restored by the arrival of reinforcements and' new equipment at various fronts.

AIR FORCE VOLUNTEERS.

(Received December 29, 8 a.m.) SHANGHAI, December 28.

A second batch of United States volunteers for the Chinese Air Force is enroute to Hankow. Some have already arrived, and include ten majors, who participated . in.'the Great War, and ninety pilots. . . .... . Newspapers predict that within a few months, foreign volunteers alone will form an Air Force sufficiently strong to contest the Japanese aeiial supremacy. The Chinese are plan-, ning to train thirty thousand airmen a year, whereof one-third will be on active service by March.

CHINESE THROWS GRENADE SHANGHAI, December 28. The Japanese spokesman intimated that the Chinese charged with grenadethrowing at Soochow Creek will be subject to the new extra-territorial regulations, but inasmuch as the incident occurred on the Chekiang Bridge, outside the area to which the regulations applied, the spokesman was. asked if they applied to the whole of Shanghai, also to foreigners. He replied that he was unable to say, but if it applied to. foreigners,, international law and Japanese treaties with foreigners would be considered. The settlement police are preventing traffic crossing the bridges spanning Soochow Creek, when Japanese Army boats are passing. The Japanese have notified their intention of replacing the Chinese policing the roads outside the settlement. AT TSINGTAO. (Recd. Dec. 29, 1 p.m.)’. SHANGHAI, December 28. There is acute tension at Tsingtao, from where 45 Americans have been evacuated. The Chinese banks are closed, shops shuttered, and the streets deserted. The Chinese have blown up all the bridges on the Tsinan-Tsingtao railway, in an attempt to check the Japanese, who, aftex- the occupation of Tsinan, are pursuing the Chinese to

Taian. They claim to be able to cut off the retreat fof the Chinese in. the Tsingtao district-, on which they are expected to avenge the burning of the Tsingtao cotton, mills. \ . CHINESE ON THE RUN. > '■. (Received December 29, 2 p.m.) TSINGTAO, December 28. Owing to the! Chinese abandoning their jobs in the Post Office, Britons and foreigners volunteered to maintain the service. Three Chinese newspapers have suspended publication, owing to the disappearance of their staffs. The systematic blowing up of Japanese cotton mills has begun. IN THE SOUTH - MACAO, December 28. Macao was awakened at dawn by the reports of heavy artillery, ten miles south-west of the city, from Wongnan Island, which the Japanese, after shelling, occupied.. Reports from the Portuguese, who possess rights on Wongnan Island, so far have not been received. EMDEN SALVAGE

SINGAPORE, December 28.'

The Marine police to-day seized a Japanese-owned fishing vessel, Anyomaru, on arrival at Singapore. A search revealed thirty tons of bronze and other metal salvaged from the wreck of the Emden off Cocos Island.

The same vessel brought unexploded shells to Singapore, last October.