CHINESE POLICY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20861, 13 August 1942, Page 5

CHINESE POLICY

SITUATION IN INDIA ALLIES’ MORAL CONCERN JAP. ATTACK PENDING (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (2.40 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Aug. 11. The Chinese Government spokesman, asked whether China was willing to mediate in the Indian dispute, replied: "If there is anything China can do. we will be very glad to do so ” He declined to reveal whether the British had approached Chungking for mediation, hut said he had accepted an invitation to visit the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, shortly. Asked whether he regarded Mr. Gandhi's release as a prerequisite of a British-Indian settlement, he said the Chinese Government has no idea of the procedure for reaching a settlement. He added that any suggestions mow might not be helpful. He asserted that, although legally, the Indian problem was a domestic British problem, it was the moral concern of all the United Nations and bore directly upon the future prospects of a better, world order and said it might prove , helpful to have a Pacific charter in which specific assurances were given. He commented tha, nationalism cannot be supressea oy weapons alone. Asked whether the comments in the Chinese Press, which fully supported India’s demand for independence, were hurting Chinese-British relations. He said he hoped that ChineseBritish relations cannot be affected in the least by any episode. He issued a warning that the continuation of the disturbances with India would interfere with China’s war supplies. He said that Chinese intelligence indicated that Japan was preparing to attack India in the autumn. It was reported that Japanese transports had delivered fresh divisions on July 27 and 28 at Haiphong and Saigon, Indo-China. They were entrained for Thailand and Burma where they could attack eastern India. Also the Japanese Lad concentrated a large group of warships off northern Formosa, probably for an attack on Fukien. Concerning the Solomons, he said the Allied attack was very significant. and very timely. The offensive action was one of the most heartening pieces of news received.