JAP.-NANKING TREATY

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1940, Page 7

JAP.-NANKING TREATY

SUBJECTION ACCEPTED CHUNKING TO FIGHT ON [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, November 30. A treaty “readjusting Chinese and Japanese relations” has been signed by General Abe, plenipotentiary for Japan, and Mr. Wang Ching-wei, head of the Nanking puppet government, according to a message from Nanking. From Tokio, it is announced that plenipotentiaries of Japan, Manchukuo, and China have signed a joint declaration whereby Japan formally recognises “the Republic of China headed by Mr. Wang Ching - wei.”

Under the treaty, Japan is granted virtual control of the Yangtse Valley, North China, and Inner Mongolia. Also, the Nanking Government has agreed to pay full indemnities to Japanese nationals for war losses. The treaty provides for joint defence against communism, and for the closest economic and cultural cooperation. Japanese troops are to remain in North China and Inner Mongolia, indefinitely, and elsewhere for at least two years after peace is restored. The Japanese Navy is granted base rights at unspecified ports “for the time for which they are required,” subject to future negotiation. The treaty was signed in the main hall of the Nanking administration building, near the tomb of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, on Purple Mountain. The Domei News Agency, in commentipg on the signature .of the treaty, says: “Japan has automatically recognised the Nanking regime as the National Government of China, thereby branding the Chiang Kaishek administration as a regional refugee regime. Relations between China and Japan are now normal.” The Chungking central news agency states that the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr. Wang Chunghui, has offered a reward of 100,000 yen for the arrest of Mr. Wang Chingwei. He reiterated the determination of the Chungking Government to continue to fight Japan. From Shanghai, it is reported that demonstrating against the treaty, 650 Chinese police went on strike. Chinese shops did not open, and constables were on the verge of rioting outside the central police station, demanding an increase in wages. A truckload of United States marines arrived at the police station and conferred with the police and the Japanese Army. Meanwhile, the Shanghai volunteers, including American troops, have been advised to prepare for mobilisation. A municipal emergency meeting has been called.

WANG AS TRAITOR. (Recd. Decembei' 2, 11.35 a.m.) CHUNGKING, December 1. The Chinese response to the treaty between Wang Ching Wei and Japan is a warning to other countries, that recognition of the “arch-traitor of the Republic” would be considered an unfriendly act. Wang Chung Hui declared that the conclusion by Japan, with the puppet organisation at Nanking of what purports to be a treaty, is the culmination of a series of aggressive acts on her part, designed to overthrow law and order, not only in China, but in the whole of the Pacific. The National Government of the Republic of China reiterates most emphatically that Wang Ching Wei is an arch-traitor of the Republic, and the puppet regime at Nanking is an illegal organisation, whose acts, whatever their character, are null and void. Should any foreign country choose to accord recognition to the puppet organisation, the Government of China would consider it an unfriendly act, and would be constrained to continue normal relations with such a country.”

U.S.A.’s NON-RECOGNITION. HUGE. LOAN FOR CHINA. WASHINGTON, November 30. The United States will continue to recognise Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s Government, according to a statement by Mr. Cordell Hull, secretary of State. He referred to what he called his basic statement of March 30 last, after the establishment of the Nanking Government. Mr. Hull and Mr. Roosevelt announced to-day that the United States was making China a 50,000,000 dollars Export and Import Bank loan, and in addition was considering the early allocation of another 50,000,000 dollars for China currency stabilisation. __ Simultaneously the White House released a letter from the Secretary for Commerce (Mr. Jesse Jones) stating that the Metals Reserve Corporation was arranging for 60,000,000 dollars’ worth of purchases of tin, wolframite, and antimony from the Chinese National Resources Commission. He added that the Export and Import Bank loan would be guaranteed by the Central Bank of China through deliveries of strategic materials. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, November 30. The treaty was anticipated in London, and caused little interest. Great Britain’s position has been clear for a long time—recognition of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s Government at Chungking as the National Government of China.

NEW AMBASSADOR’S VIEWS TOKIO, November 30. .Admiral Nomura (the new Japanese Ambassador to the United States), in a statement to the United Press of America, said war between the United States and Japan would be a tragedy for civilisation. Regardless of who won the first round, peace in the Pacific area would be menaced by retaliatory measures afterwards as the loser sought revenge. Asked how he expected to explain the Tripartite Pact , as an instrument not aimed at the United States, Admiral Nomura said he personally thought there was no danger of the treaty involving Japan in war with America. In. the first place, he said, the United Stages was already aiding Britain to the utmost without finding it necessary or advisable to become a belligerent, which was necessary for the Tripartite Pact to be evoked against her. / Admiral Noumura gave the interviewer the impression, in the second place, that ; although the treaty provides that the signatories undertake

to assist, etc., this did not necessarily bind Japan to war unconditionally. He observed that the Greek, and Italian hostilities started after the pact was signed, yet Japan had not aided Italy. The danger to peace in the Pacific, he said, was the United States aid to the Chinese Government, at Chungking. OIL IN CHINA CHUNGKING, November 30. One of China’s most essential and urgent war-time needs is expected to be fully met by the discovery of rich oil wells in western Kansu, in northwest China. These wells are expected to yield 8,000,000 gallons a year for at least a century. TRAIN SMASH SHANGHAI, November 30. Japanese sources stated that one hundred were killed and 205 were injured as the result of the wrecking of a train at Soochow Creek, Shanghai. Chinese guerillas dynamited the train, which was taking Chinese to Nanking for the signing of the treaty. JAPANESE AIR CHIEF KILLED TOKIO, November 30. The Wai’ Office has disclosed that an aviation chief, Major General Nobuichi Kusunoki, and five others, were killed on Friday, when their plane crashed in a fog on a mountain when flying over Kaishu in Koua. FRENCH-THAI WAR INDO-CHINA FIGHTING.

BANGKOK, November 30. The Thai high command states that Thai forces have invaded Indo-China and occupied, after sharp fighting, Banongkein, Bankokrabang, and Pratuchai, all near Aranga. Fighting between the Thai and French forces is continuing on the border of IndoChina. French nationals have been ordered by the Thai high command to evacuate the frontier provinces within 24 hours, according to semi-official reports. It is also stated in Hanoi that Thailand is calling up reserves and rapidly mobilising the army. French officials in Thailand have' warned their nationals to prepare for any emergency. From Hanoi it is reported that French troops, in accordance with an agreement, re-occupied Langson and Dongdang. They have continued very stern measures in an effort to suppress the uprising, which is continuing on a minor scale in southern Indo-China. It is reported that Thailand and Britain have signed an agreement whereby Thailand agrees to supply rice to Singapore. ARMS FOR EAST INDIES WASHINGTON, November 29. The State Department disclosed that it had issued export licenses during October for the shipment to the Dutch East Indies of 11,160,000 dollars worth of arms and military material, of which 8,649,000 dollars was for tanks and. armoured cars. This surprising total, which made the Dutch East Indies among the largest purchasers of United States arms outside Europe, brough the total purchases by the Dutch for 10 months to 27,044,000 dollars, of which 4,691,000 is for military aircraft. / JAPANESE AND DUTCH E. INDIES TOKIO, November 30. The Foreign Office has announced that Mr. Kenkichi Yoshizawa, a former Foreign Minister, has been appointed chief Japanese delegate for the Batavia parley, replacing Mr. Kobayashi. The new delegate is associated with a more liberal political element.