U.S.A. AND FAR EAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1940, Page 7

U.S.A. AND FAR EAST

LOAN TO CHINESE “LEAST WE CAN DO” [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, December 2. Newspapers in China have announced that the United States has made a loan of 100,000,000 dollars to China. One newspaper commented that the loan . constituted not only a blow at Japan, but also improved the whole position in the Pacific. The Secretary of State (Mr. Cordell) Hull), in a statement to newspaper representatives, said: “This is such a vital matter that it is the least we can do in return for the job the Chinese are doing.” Congressmen said that Mr. Hull and Mr. Henry Morgenthau, jun., Secretary of the Treasury, told the joint Senate and House Committee on Monetary Affairs that America’s position in the Pacific was at stake. Aid. to China was. essential for the maintenance of the status quo in the Far East and was an integral part of the agenda for the defence of the United States.

KAI SHEK’S COMMENT CHUNGKING, December 2. Marshal Chiang Kai Shek expressed the opinion that the recognition by Japan of the Nanking Government insults the intelligence both of the Japanese and Chinese people. “It is a great blot on the national prestige of Japan,” he said, “because it will prolong instead of shorten hostilities.” Marshal Chiang Kai-shek blamed Prince Konoye, the Prime Minister of Japan, for Japan’s plight, first for starting the war between China and Japan, second, for signing the Anti-Comintern Pact, third for defining Japan’s policy for a new order and fourth, for recognising the Nanking Government, all of which would prolong the hostilities. Apparently addressing his remarks to Washington, Marshal Chiang Kaishek urged that a firm policy should be continued in the Far East in spite of the European war. He termed Japan, a “potentially boundless curse in the Pacific.” SHANGHAI BLOCKADE SHANGHAI, December 2. Japanese gendarmes anriounced a formal blockade of the Western Settlement area. They have issued regulations by which foreign residents are permitted an entrance and exit subject to the discretion of the Japanese officers and the issuance of passes. The Japanese said they were considering a relaxation of the food blockade. The Shanghai Municipal Council has requested Consular officers to do their utmost to relax the blockade.

FRENCH-SIAMESE WAR (Recd. Dec. 4, 12.30 p.m.). NEW YORK, December 3. The Bangkok correspondent of the Associated Press of America says: The Thailand High Command announced that a French effort to seize the souths eastern province of Trad was beaten off. A French warship was damaged from the air. A detachment of French troops landed a few miles from the Thai frontier, and proceeded inland a short distance before being repulsed. A second landing party was repulsed with heavy -casualties. On the north-eastern front, near Nagorbanom, Thai aviation carried out retaliatory raids, wrecking the French military headquarters.