RELATIONS SEVERED

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 July 1929, Page 5

RELATIONS SEVERED

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

SOVIET TAKES ACTION.

WAR. PREPARATIONS CONTINUE.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.)

SHANGHAI, July 18. Tine Soviet ’has severed relations with China, states a Moscow message. The Mukden arsenal is feverishly manufacturing munitions, whilst the mobilisation and movement, of troops are proceeding in all directions in Manchuria and adjoining provinces, despite the reported friendly nature of China’s reply to the Soviet’s ultimatum, says a Harbin message. Military preparations in the north show no .signs of slackening. _ Further troop trains have left Harbin, going east to Pograniabnaya and west to Na-n----chul'i. The few remaining Russian officials in Haribin state that the Chinese reply fails to open the way for negotiations. The last international train from Harbin failed to connect with the Russian train alt Manohulli, indicating that through traffic has been suspended. _ Shanghai is excitedly watching developments, following an Associated) Press message from Moscow stating that 'diplomatic relations had been severed, though there is no statement from Nanking. • A Tokio message, says well-informed people believe both the Soviet and China are bluffing and do not expect actual warfare. Nevertheless, in order to. safeguard Japan’s interests, it has been decided to carry out the long projected addition of two battalions to Japan’s guards in Manchuria, which project, it was thought, would be abandoned in view of the Kellogg Pact and the new Cabinet’s retrenchment policy.

.SOVIET’S MEASURES. (Australian Crewe A>.»ociatlua —United Service. 1 - MOSCOW, July 18. The Soviet, in reply to the Chinese Note, says that all means of reaching an amicable .settlement have been exhausted and the Soviet has been compelled to take the following measures, placing the entire responsibility of the consequences on China : All Soviet diplomatic, consular and commercial representatives will be recalled from! China. All Soviet officials will be recalled from the Chinese Eiaistern Railway.

Railway communications between the Soviet Union and China will be suspended'. Diplomatic and consular representatives of China •will be ordered immediately to leave Soviet Russia. The* Soviet declares it reserves all rights arising from the Peking and Mukden agreement of 1924, and describes the Chinese Government's Note as unsatisfactory in its contents and hypocritical in tone. Thei Note complains that China lias practically rejected the Soviet’s three absolutely necessary and perfectly moderate proposals. Instead of restoring •tie Peking amici Mukden, agreements tie Chinese Government sanctions their oie-sided abrogation, thereby destroyiig the possibility of normal relations. Instead of reversing the unlawful actions regarding the railway China sanciions them, also unlawful. repressions Against Soviet citizens and institutions, aid hypocritically attempts to. justify I ifiosc. I “The Oiinese Note’s reference tO| propaganda as an excuse for unlawful action of the Chinese authorities is false and hypocritical,” the Soviet’s! Note concludes, pointing out that the; real object of the Oiinese action, is re-1 vealed in the Press statement of Presi-j dent Ohiang, - who plainly declared : i “There is nothing unusual in ourj measures, which are designed to take-j the Chinese Eastern Railway in ouri own hands. ’ ’ I

NOT TO INTERFERE. CHINESE WARNING TO JAPAN. Received 11.15 a.m. to-day. SHANGHAI. July 18. An. unmistakable warn in- was clelivotied to the Japanese against Japanese intervention in tiie Manoliuinnn question bv Yell Tsuch-ang, the Ivuominbang miblieity director. Yeli accused the Japanesc news agencies ot circulating exaggerated iand alarming reports; honing to create a proper atmosphere preparatory to Japanese intervention. the excuse being the interests of nationals in the territory coveted bv Japan for coionising purposes. Three hundred more car-loads of munitions are reported to have left for the border and several armoured cars are preparing to depart.