CHINA RUMOURS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20209, 30 March 1940, Page 7

CHINA RUMOURS

RULE OF WANG GROUP SOVIET ACTIVITIES GERMAN PENETRATION FRENCH WARNING NOTE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Pres? Assn.) (Reed. March 29, 2.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 28. The Shanghai correspondent of the New York Times says that on the eve of the inauguration of the Wang Cliing-Wei regime the wildest rumours are in circulation, of which the chief is that 26 empty Japanese transports have gone up the Yangtsc in preparation for the wholesale withdrawal of the Japanese from central China in order to supply “face for Mr. Wang.” Soviet photographs providing evidence that Russia is rapidly completing the narrow-gauge railway from Urga to the Manchukuo border, have excited Japanese military circles. Alarmed at the extent of the German penetration at Yunnan. Allied officials have gathered at Hanoi to watch developments.» The British Ambassador to China, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr and the French Ambassador, M. Cosme, are reported to be concerned with the threat of German subversive activities in Burma and Inclo-China. M. Cosme, it _is understood, warned Marshal Chiang KaiShek that the German position at Yunnan must be liquidated in 21 days, otherwise the French were occupying the lianoi-Kunming railway.