ANXIETY IN BRITAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 69, 20 February 1932, Page 2

ANXIETY IN BRITAIN

3.45 P.M. EDITION

FAR EAST CRISIS. (United .Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received February 20, 2.35 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 19. The situation in Shanghai has necessitated the Admiralty of the War Office remaining open all night until further notice as during the Great War. The emergency committee of Cabinet, including Mr Stanley Baldwin, Sir John Simon, Lord Hailsham. Sir Bolton Eyres-Monsell, Sir Samuel Hoare, Mr Neville Chamberlain and Mr J. H. Thomas, has been formed ready to meet at an hour’s notice at any time of the day or night. The Ministers have cancelled their weekend engagements. PEACE EFFORTS. (British Official Wireless). Received February 20, 11:30 a.m. RUGBY, Feb. 19. The Far Eastern situation continues to engage the anxious attention of lie Ministers, and a further meeting of the Cabinet committee was held in the House of Commons this afternoon. Hopes have not yet been abandoned that the peace efforts may prove successful; but the outlook, is menacing. Meanwhile representations have again been made to the Chinese and Japanese, warning each side, that they will be held strictly responsible for any loss of life and pronerty of British nationals within the Shanghai International Settlement caused by the respective armed forces, A general • warning was issued - today by the British' Consul-General pointing out that the fighting may be on a large scale, with the danger of shells landing in the Settlement, especially the Hongkow and Yangtsepoo districts. British subjects have been advised to take cover while the fighting is in progress. The defences are considered to be sufficient to prevent actual fighting occurring within the Settlement. A scheme has been prepared for the evacuation of British women and children from Shanghai should such a step become necessary, The latest Press telegrams state that General Tsai ' Ting-kai, the local Chinese commander, and other officials in the Shanghai area, having repudiated General U-yeda’s ultimatum, referred it to the Nanking authorities. Nanking is reported to have replied that they were willing to order the withdrawal of Chinese troops as requested, only if the Japanese troops were withdrawn a similar distance, to the satisfaction of the neutral investigatofs. A refusal has been given Japan’s request for dismantling the Woosung forts. JAPANESE) SQUADRON.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. Although not officially notified, the Government, in view of the developments in the Far' East, does not believe that the Japanese, squadron is likely to carry out its previous proposed visit to the Dominion at the end of May.