WAR IN MANCHURIA

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3369, 24 September 1931, Page 5

WAR IN MANCHURIA

RUSSIAN TROOPS MOBILISING.

CHINESE ALLEGE COLLUSION. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 9.KLa.m.) Shanghai, September 23. A report that Russian troops are mobilising on the border has strengthened the belief held by many Chinese at Harbin that a secret understanding exists between Japan and the Soviet for a division of the spoils in Manchuria. JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS ARMY. DEMANDS CHINA’S SURRENDER. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 10.5 a.m.) Tokio, September 23. The Japanese military authorities maintain that they are well within treaty rights and the sudden emergency has justified their action in Manchuria from the beginning. Operations up to the present have apparently been carried out independent of the Tokio Government, which to-day granted funds to support the army in Manchuria, where failing- China’s complete surrender, it will stay indefinitely. CHINESE CONSUL’S DENIAL. THAT HIS COUNTRY IS RESPONSIBLE. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 10.45 a.m.) . Sydney, this day. The Consul-General for China, Mr. W. V. Chen, denied that the Chinese have been the aggressors in the clash with the Japanese in Manchuria. He said the Chinese were totally unprepared for the onslaught. The Japanese Government sent troops who bombarded and occupied Mukden and other cities without a formal declaration of war, using the alleged pretence that Chinese soldiers tore up a section of the Southern Manchurian railway. “I mantain that the story of attack by the Chinese was engenedered for foreign consumption,” said Mr. Chen.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS ACTIVE. JAPANESE CABINET DIVIDED. (Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 9.55 a.m.) Shanghai, September 24. The Chinese Foreign Office has received a telegram from the League of Nations Council, and the news that the League’s machinery is functioning had a calming effect in the capital. The Chinese Minister in Japan at Tokyo had a conference with Baron Shidehara, wherein the latter blamed the Chinese War Ministi-y for the Manchurian events. The Chinese Minister confirms the report of a division in the Japanese Cabinet over the action in Manchuria.

JAPS ADVANCE ON HARBIN. FOREIGN CONSULS CONFER. (Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.45 a.m.) A Shanghai, September 23. The Japanese advance on Harbin is reported to be proceeding, despite Tokyo’s denials. The British, French, American, German and other Consuls at Harbin urgently conferred and decided to ascertain Japan’s intentions so that they can protect foreigners in the event of an emergency arising. It is rumoured at Aman that Serenoff, the notorious “White” Russian, has arrived at Mukden incognito. Chinese troops at Harbin swarmed inwards ahead of the advancing Japanese, and are preparing to quit the city, fearing Japanese occupation. General Chiang-kai-shek has received a telegram from the Soviet Consul at Harbin and called the attention of the Japanese Consul to the fact that the Japanese military movements are interfering with the operations of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Nanking has been advised that Japan is considering the League’s communication and expects that Japan will intimate its readiness to withdraw her troops to the railway zone where they are entitled to remain, but it will first be necessary to secure a guarantee from China regarding the safety of Japanese nationals and property. The Nanking Foreign Office this afternoon dispatched a third note of protest to Japan reiterating its previous demands for an immediate withdrawal and restoration of the seized territories, and points out the delivery of the previous notes and that if the Japanese military movement is extended it will mean a danger to peace in the Far East.