PEACE CONFERENCE FAILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 68, 19 February 1932, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE FAILS

CHINA WILL FIGHT TO THE END t NO WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS JAPAN’S DEMANDS EEJECTED (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received February 19, 8.5 a.m. SHANGHAI, Feb. 18. Chinese and Japanese military leaders met on neutral - ground this morning and held a lengthy conference in regard to a peace settlement.

The conference failed, and the Chinese rejected the Japanese demand for the withdrawal of their troops declaring that China would fight to the end.

The Japanese demand that the Chinese must withdraw 20 kilometres from Shanghai before midnight on February 20.

ANXIETY INJSNGLAND. STATEMENT BY FOREIGN SECRETARY. GOVERNMENT’ S~GR AVE CONCERN (British Official Wireless.) Received February' 19. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Feb. 18. . The acute interest with which the House of Commons is watching the events in the Far East was shown again to-day, when Sir John Simon gave members the latest information in his possession. After referring with regret to the two British naval ratings who were killed yesterday by shells which, from their direction, seemed almost certain to have been fired by Chinese guns, Sir John Simon said that the British Minister sent a Note to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, calling attention to the episode and requesting that strict instructions' be issyied to the Chinese military authorities concerned with a view to preventing any possible recurrence of such incidents, and reminding him that the British Government must in this unfortunate conflict between China and. Japan hold each side responsible for any loss of British life and property that may be caused by the respective armed forces. Referring to the meeting this morning between the Chinese and Japanese military authorities- which, he mentioned, had been largely brought about by Sir Miles Lampsoh in the nope that a cessation of hostilities might be arranged, Sir John Simon said that the House would regret that the latest Press messages indicated that an agreement had not been secured. COMMITTEE OF JURISTS. The latest news from Geneva was that Jnpan had raised certain legal points in connection with the Chinese request for the reference of the dispute from the Council to the Assembly. These had been referred by the Council to a committee of'jurists, who were expected to report to-day. He anticipated that tne Chinese application woul£ then he dealt with by the Council without delay. When the Shanghai situation was mentioned in the House of Lords this evening, Lord Hailsham, War Secrertay, expressing the grave concern of the Government, said that wliat had happened was- very difficult to reconcile with the provisions of the Pact of Paris or the League Covenant. While co-operating with all peace efforts, the Government had kept the closest possible touch with the American Government and its colleagues of the League Council. , ' The reported failure of the meeting to-day between the Japanese and Chinese was to be greatly regretted, nd there seemed to be a serious risk of a commencement of hostilities. Such failure was not going to discourage the Government in its peace efforts. He asked for restraint to be exorcised in expressions of opinion as to where the responsibility lay for the situation until a full opportunity was given the Council or the Assembly of the League to determine the issues. PEACE PARLEYS.

manders, the Japanese presented a series of demands, including the demilitarisation of Shanghai, together with the destruction of the fortifications _ in the Woosung area and the immediate withdrawal, 20 kilometres, of the Chinese forces. The meeting lasted two hours. [ The Chinese representative said that he was unable to accept the proposals and must refer them to his Government. Afterwards it was stated that terms were communicated to the Chinese by the Japanese, with a notification that the Chinese troops must withdraw from their first lines oy Saturday morning, and from the second lines by Saturday evening. The Chinese authorities are believed to be engaged in drafting a reply. Artillery fire was again being exchanged during the evening. PEACE WITH HONOUR DESIRED. SHANGHAI, Feb. 18. ' Both China and Japan desire peace with honour, but the greatest drawback comes from the Chinese, who are under the impression that any withdrawal would indicate weakness. JAPAN’S REPLY TO LEAGUE. NEW YORK. Feb. 17. According to the Washington correspondent of tlio New York Times, the State Department bras received reports to the effect that in Japan’s reply to the League of Nations she contends that she will not undertake to occupy Chinese soil indefinitely if the Chinese withdraw from Shanghai. This, however, is construed as a direct intimation that Japan might attempt to bold the Chapei district permanently as a settlement area for her nationals, and, therefore, is causing some concern. It is expected that the State Department shortly will instruct the United States Ambassador to Japan, Mr W. C. Forbes, again to protest against the landing of Japanese troops in the International Settlement.

BOMB EXPLOSION TN SHANGHAI.

SHANGHAI, Feb. 18. Residents in the International Settlement are becoming steadily more apprehensive following yesterday’s severe shelling, which resulted in the deaths of two bluejackets and eight Chinese and the injury of a score of others. A bomb placed in a doorway this morning at the Mitsui Bussan Raisha office (Japanese exporters of coal and machinery) in the heart of the city, exploded with terrific force, killing one Chinese outright, injuring three pedestrians, and shattering the front of the building. An effort is being made to-day to arrange a conference between Lieuten-ant-General Uyeda, the Japanese Field Commander, and General Thai Ting-kai, commander of the Chinese Nineteenth Route Army, in a final effort to persuade the Chinese forces to withdraw. To avoid issuing an ultimatum it will be necessary for the Chinese to withdraw 12J miles. Firing practically ceased last night.

(British Official Wireless.) Received February 19, 11 a.m. RUGBY, Feb. 18. Press messages from Shanghai say that at a meeting of the military com-