MARCH OF EVENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 231, 30 August 1937, Page 7

MARCH OF EVENTS.

NEGOTIATIONS IMPOSSIBLE

LONDON, Aug. 29.

The Prime Minister of Japan, Prince Konoye, states a message from Tokio, declared that the present situation made diplomatic negotiations with Nanking impossible. The best course, he said, would be to beat China to her knees so that she would no longer have the spirit to light. The Japanese admit that the Chinese, despite a lack of heavy guns, are fighting most bravely and envisage a year’s campaign. The Nanking correspondent of the Manchester Guardia.n says that neu"tral observers afe dismayed at the relentless march of events toward war on an ever-widening scale. In , the highest Chinese circles there are three schools of thought: First, those who would have the nation stake all upon a fight to the bitter end. Secondly, those advocating stiff resistance for a few months in the hope of wearing down the Japanese to the point where it may be possible to drive a reasonable bargain. Thirdly, those urging the utmost exploitation of diplomatic channels while they are still open. All three appear to be united, however, in their determination not to consider a settlement on any but honpurable terms and to support the Government to the limit whatever course may be ■ Six hundred civilians were killed and 1200 wounded by the Japanese yesterday morning in an air raid in the Nantao district, where refugees were congregated awaiting trains, states a Shanghai cablegram.