NEW EASTERN CRISIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 104, 13 April 1933, Page 6

NEW EASTERN CRISIS

DANGER POINTED OUT JAPS. TO SEIZE RUSSIAN-CON-TROLLED RAILWAYS. MAY LEAD TO OCCUPATION OF VLADIVOSTOCK. LONDON, April 12. Newspapers are directing attention to the danger of a new crisis in the Far East. The Japanese Government is said to be preparing to seize the Russian controlled Chinese Eastern Railway on the grounds of the Soviet’s alleged withdrawal of 50 per cent, of the railway stock from Manchuria to Russian territory. The “Telegraph’s’’ diplomatic correspondent says that the Soviet’s action seems to furnish Japan and Manchukuo with a plausible argument for assuming full control of the Chinese Eastern Railway and might lead ultimately to the Japanese occupation of Vladivostock. SOVIET PREPARING FOR WAR SHANGHAI, April 12. The “Harbin Times.’’ a Japanese owned paper, editorially argues to-day that the Soviet is obviously preparing for war, stating that over 50 per cent, of the Chinese Eastern Railway rolling stock has been evacuated into Russia, which is equivalent to systematic stealing. The Soviet claims that the stock originally belonged to the Kerensky Government. If so, why was a claim not made earlier. The editor alleges that the Soviet is openly lying, and demands that the U.S.S.R. should apologise without raising the question of ownership. He believes that the Soviet having predetermined war, is hurriedly increasing the transport facilities of the Siberian railways, which at present are absolutely rulnea.