CHINA’S ANXIETY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 36, 26 January 1932, Page 5

CHINA’S ANXIETY

DEFENCE MEASURES FRANTIC HASTE NEAR SHANGHAI IMPENDING JAPANESE ATTACK. (United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) (Received 26, 10.10 a.m.) Shanghai, Jan. 25. Frantic preparations are being made by the Chinese authorities to withstand the threatened attack by the Japanese and the forcible occupation of the Chinese areas around Shanghai. Soldiers are being rushed along the Shanghai-Nanking railway, and all the strategic points are being reinforced in anticipation of the attempt to seize the railway and disrupt communications with the capital. Chinese military forces are barricading the native boundaries, digging trenches and erecting wire entanglements. Big supplies of munitions and anti-aircraft guns have been issued to the commanders of various defence points in the WoosungShangliai area. These warlike preparations are alarming the Chinese residing outside the foreign concessions, and thousands are pouring into the settlement. DISPUTE AGAIN BEFORE HAGUE COUNCIL. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 20, 12.31) p.m.) Rugby, Jan. 25. The Sino-Japanese dispute again came before the Hague Council at Geneva. M. Boncour, the president, reviewed the manner in which the situation has developed since December 10 with special reference to the occupation of Chinchow by the Japanese. He said that a special Manchuria. :ommission, headed by Lord Lytton, would have the widest latitude in deciding upon what questions it would report on to the Hague Council.

The Chinese delegate appealed to the Council to take up the matter ou stronger lines, declaring that 200,000 square miles, inhabited by 20,000,000 Chinese, had been seized by the Japanese, who were now occupying Jenmol hundreds of miles from the Manchurian railway. The Japanese deleg. , Mr. Sato, retorted that nothing had been ehanged in Manchuria. The Chinese population was still there, with only one difference —that they were now living and working in a peaceful atmosphere. He repeated the Japanese promise to continue the policy of the open door in Manchuria until such time as they could evacuate without endangering the lives of Japanese residents there. The Council then adjourned until tomorrow.