FAR EAST PROBLEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 January 1938, Page 9

FAR EAST PROBLEMS

JAPAN’S PUPPET GOVERNMENTS lßy Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent! LONDON, 16th December The abandonment of Nanking by General Chiang Kai-shek and his Gov- i ernment is likely to cause further complications in the international situation ; arising out of Japan’s war of aggres- ] sion. The Japanese authorities have in- ; dicated that with the capture of Nan- j king they intend to withdraw recognition of General Chiang’s administra- ] tion as a Central Government of China. ( On the fac' of it such procedure wou.d ( seem to add to ,-apan’s difficulties for ( she will be depriving herself of the one and only "opposite number” with whom [ to negotiate peace on her cwn terms l But as Japan must be well aware of this as anyone her decision has a sinister ’ aspect, as. i-U«uggests that her intention s is to walk through the whole ol China and demand recognition of her victory 1 from each and every one of the local military governors The problem fro. i 1 the international point of view is to de cide how far it will be possible to con- J tinue recognition of the Central Gov- 1 ernment in its retreat. To do so after 1 it haj ceased to function as a Central < Government —and this conceivably may i happen at almost any day—would be 1 clearly farcical. Yet the alternative is i objectionable for it means according recognition to the puppet Governments 1 which Japan sets up in ’.he >nquered ] terr v ries. |