EVE OF WAR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11877, 23 February 1933, Page 5

EVE OF WAR

JAPANESE MESSAGE TO CHINA.

ULTIMATUM IN FEW HOURS.

WITHDRAWAL FROM JEHOL

ORDERED.

FAILURE WILL MEAN RESORT TO FORCE.

FEVERISH PREPARATIONS IN CHINESE CITIES.

HOSPITALS AND DEPOTS READY FOR WOUNDED.

THOUSANDS OF TROOPS ON WAY TO FRONT.

(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel- Copyright) (Received Feb. 22, 7.40 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Feb. 22.

A Japanese official message announces that an ultimatum will be delivered some time to-day, demanding the withdrawal of all Chinese troops from Jehol, failing which Japan will be compelled to resort to force to remove a menace which is threatening the peace of Manchukuo. Feverish preparations, continue .at Nanking and in the. North China cities, particularly Peking, where hospitals and depots for the reception of tlio wounded arc in readiness. . Civilian organisations are working night and day preparing the usual war comforts.

Thousands of troops are pa Ding through the city along the single road leading to Jehol, which is being ground to pieces by the continuous stream of motor lorries carrying supplies, men, camel transports, bullock drays and heavy guns iformins am endless procession heading for tho formidable natural defence, tho Jehol mountains.

Reassuring messages have been broadcast many tidies curing tho day, official exhortations being made to the nation to stand together in China’s greatest crisis. The newspapers are stirring 'be* people, and arousing mi unprecedented warlike spirit.. Arrangements have been completed in the capital to broadcast the war news. Loud speakers will be erected at nil main points to enable the people to learn the fortunes of the armies in the North. JAPAN'S FINAL APPEAL TO .ASSEMBLY. "THINK TWICE BEFORE COMING TO TYr^TSTON.’’ TITF NEGOTIATION COMMITTEE. OBJECTION TO AMERICA AND RTJSSFA. (U.P.A. by Elec. To'. Cnp.vrM'bt (Rer. Fob. 22. 7.10 p.m.) GENEVA, Feb. -22. Japan’s reply to the Committee of Nineteen appeals to the Assembly to think twice before coming to a decision. It urges the application of the principles of the Covenant of the Nine Power and the Kellogg pacts, in accordance with realities. Tt emphasises that nine-tenths of tlio Lytton report principles cannot be fulfilled without a strong central Government. and objects to the inclusion of America and Russia on the committee of negotiations.

JABAN urges compliance

WITH DEMAND

NOT INTENDED TO FTC TIT OHTNA

RUT OBLIGATIONS MUST BE FULFILLED.

NO DAMAGE TO TIENTSIN E NT.FSS UN AVO ! DABT.F.

(II P a hv Elec. Tel Copy light) Mice. Fob. 22, .10.5" p.m.) TOKYO. Feb. 22

' The Government to-day is communieaing with Chang Hsueli Liang, urging compliance with 'Manchukuo s demand for the. withdrawal of the troops at present menacing Jehol, thereby avoiding tho .necessity °l fighting. The communication emphasises that it is not intended to enter upon war with China, hut Japan must carry out her obligations to assist Manchukuo to clear the territory of peace disturbers. There will be no danger to the Tientsin or Peking regions unless urgencies of military necessity compel following the battle beyond the Great Wall in order to ensure that the dtStiirbing forces will not return.

JAPAN’S PURCHASE OE OLD

SHIRS TDEA of WAR SERVICE RIDICULED (O.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright ; (Received Feb. 22, 7 p.m) LONDON, Feb. 22. A well-known shipbreaker says that it is absurd to suggest that Japan is buying old ships for war service, as reconditioning would be too expensive The fact is that scrap metal is thus obtainable, moro cheaply than otherwise in Japan, which is not the only country buying scrap iron. Many ships are going to Sweden and Italy weekly-

JAPAN’S STRONG MAN

IS HE A MUSSOLINI?

Though General Minn mi was appointed Minister of War professedly becauso ho was a strong man and there are great events pending :'m Manchuria, no sooner, was the conquest of Manchuria well under way than, there was a demand for a still stronger man, and General Araki succeeded Miwairu, says a writer in the “Manchester Guardian.” Whatever the degree of his strength Ariki never shirks publicity. Every day orm sees in .tlie . Japanese newspapers ..photev graphs of. the. Cabinet, .with: General Araki very-prominent in the midst—Araki and his staff, Araki in the bosom pf his family, or granting interviews to emissaries from Manchukuo,

or meeting foreign, notables-—always tho keen-eyed little man, with a big moustache dominates the picture. . He see.'? to that. Ilis pronouncements are: loss frequent than his photographs.'- but he is always ready to 'talks; and he is positive regarding the position in Manchuria, the need for immediate recognition, and . tlio benefits, that will result to everybody. Ordinarily the Minister of War feels the competition of the-Chief of the .General, Staff, who is in many ways the more erful man; hut soon after the Manchurian business began Imperial princes were appointed a.s Chiefs of tho Army and Navy General Staffs — which is convenient, for an imperial prince is above criticism, whereas, powerful though the Chief of Staff may be, one can say what one likes about him if he is merely a general officer. So General A.rajki. has a monopoly in speaking for the army, and he is said to be the idol and patron of the young officers’ societies, one of which accomplished the murder of Premier. Imxak.i —a crime for which the culprits have not yet been brought t-o justice. General Araki is also* tho idol and patron of the oxsoldiers’ associations, which are said to have a membership of four millions. "PURIFYING POLITICS.” ”At the time of Inukai’s murder, it was freely given out that the deed was done as a sign of the disgust of the nation at tho corruption and futility of the political parties. It was with these facts in view that we must observe an “exclusive” report that appeared in the ’’Kokumin,” a Tokyo daily whose policy seems to. swerve between an extreme militarism and an outspokenness that sometimes looks like Liberalism. The “Kokumin” announces that the Minister of War is about to launch a movement fAr the. purification of politics; and to this end he held a preliminary meeting at the Military Chib at Kudan, Tokyo. Thorp were present four army leaders besides himself, and about a hundred other persons, including representatives of Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Okura, and Sumitomo—the four greatest firms in Japan, who all owe substantial proportions of tlloir prosperity to contracts performed for the Government, particularly fop the army. The rest consisted of good men and True, mainly ox-soldiei's new prosperous in business. *

Tn the. course of five, hours’ conference they decided that if something were not done Parliamentary corruption might seriously compromise the future interests of the State. To prevent this disaster they agreed tn mobilise the entire force of the exsoldiers’ societies throughout tho country as well ns that of financial leaders of military antecedents. General Araki expressed The greatest regret that the Diet was so little representative of the people who elect it; it is popularly called “monkey business.” and it must be restored to a place of honour in the public esteem. ITALIAN INSPIRATION. The means for doing this are very interesting. According to the “Kokuinin,” it was decided at the meeting that anybody desiring to present, a petition to the Diet must first consult the ex-soldiers’ society and then tlio young men’s association (of which there-is one in every village), so that only such petitions as reflect the true wishes of the people generally may be laid before the Diet, and only such candidates as have the true interests of.the State at heart shall be returned to the Diet, all professional politicians being rejected.

The"' - ‘Kokumin” owns that the idea is not strictly original, but lias an Italian inspiration. It describes briefly how the Fascists reformed tho Italian Parliament, and says: “From this movement emerged Mussolini.” It did not consider it necessary to prophesy who would emerge from the new movement in Japan. The military authorities deny the accuracy of the •‘Kokumin’’ report, and say that the meeting discussed employment for ex-soldiers. If the story is fictitious the writer was merely carrying a step further tho ideas which have been, sedulously promoted of Into, and if he was sensational he was less so than the young officers who murdered the Premier.

JAPP. HARASSED. MANCHURIAN TASK RIGGER TITAN EXPECT ED. GRAVE CONDITIONS IN CHINA. DUNEDIN, February 20. A well-known New Zealand missionary in China writes: “There is a good deal of distress in China. In fact, it is a wonder the country keeps going at all, for lawlessness is the order of the day, so that life and property are quite uncertain quantities. Communists continue to make headway, and they have got control of large areas in the country.

“Troubles up in Manchuria become more aggravated as the days go by, .and the Japanese arc finding . that they have undertaken a bigger task tlia.n they bargained for when a year ago ,they started military action against Chang Hsueh-liang’s # regime. Groups of so-called Chinese volunteers are harassing them in a. persistent way and there is constant fighting without any result, except to add to the .misery of honest. citizens. “In spite of all this lawlessness and wickedness.” ' the writer adds; “missionary .wprik. is operating In a wonderful way in various parts of China. One significant experience. I may mention is that a young Chinese who obtained the LL.D.. degree in America felt . the mission call whilst crossing the Pacific to his own country, threw overboard his diplomas and certifif cates, received an. appointment as pastor soon after.landing, and has common ced evangelistic work in the North" of China. Ho has just completed a month’s mission at Peiping, with the result that multitudes of lives bavo been completely changed, including those of some foreigners. One evidence of the reality of*the work is the fact. that large sums of money have boon returned to employers by servants n.nd employees who formerly: indulged in 'squeeze.’”