RUSSIANS' CRUEL DEEDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 13

RUSSIANS' CRUEL DEEDS.

WAR IN MANCHURIA.

ALLEGATIONS BY CHINESE.

appeal to world leaders.

Bj lelegraph—Preesi Association—Copyright.

SHANGHAI. Nov. 27. A tolegranj received at Shanghai dcclaies (hat the cruelty of Russian soldiers 111 Manchuria is unprecedented in the history of tho world. The message suggests that an International Commission should hold an inquiry into tho aggressions of tho Russians in Noitb Manchuria and that common action should be taken to maintain tho spirit of the Kellogg Pact.

Ihis suggestion has been forwarded to tho President of the United States, Mr. Hoover, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, and other world leaders by a gioup representing Chinese organisations in Manchuria.

The message claims that the Russians have repeatedly pillaged Chinese towns and massacred innocent Chinese citizens. It says the Chinese troops have consistently confined themselves to defensive measures and have never sot foot on Russian soil.

The latest messages to hand from Harbin report that all the territory between Manchuli and Hailar is held by Russian forces, iho people are experiencing the horrors of war. Russian airmen continue bombing operations on a wide scale.

INTERVENTION ISSUE.

DISCUSSION IN COMMONS.

JOINT ACTION SUGGESTED.

British Wireless. RUGBY, Nov. 27. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, was asked in the House of Commons whether, seeing thai certain hostile acts had been committed by Russia against China, both of whom'had signed the Kellogg Pact, he would consider bringing this breach of the pact before the other signatory Governments with a view to attaining a peaceful settlement. The Minister replied that the Kellogg Pact provided no machinery for dealing with any case of infraction, or apparent infraction, of its terms. It merely stated in the preamble that any signatory who might thereafter seek to promote its national interests by resort to war would be denied the benefits furnished by that treaty. Mr. Henderson said he understood the Chinese Government might appeal to the League of Nations. The covenant of the League provided machinery for dealing with such an appeal, and he thought it would be best to await developments in that direction. Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr. Henderson's predecessor as Foreign Secretary, asked whether any communication had passed between the Government of the United States and the British Government on the subject; and whether any suggestion was made by the former for common representations to be made to Russia against a breach of the Kellogg Pact. Mr. Henderson replied that in the early days of the Russo-Chinese dispute communications did pass. He had informed the House at the time that Britain was prepared to participate in any joint action calculated to bring the dispute to a peaceful termination. Since then no further communication had been received from the United States, but a communication had come from another Government. If joint action could be taken Britain was prepared to participate. Sir Austen asked if Mr. Henderson would consider whether it would not be proper for the Government to initiate fresh negotiations with the United States on the subjectMr. Henderson said he would consider the suggestion to initiate joint action. Asked if it was not possible to adopt other machinery than that of the League of Nations. Mr. Henderson said tho action he was contemplating was not associated with the League in the first instance, but joint action by the signatories of the Kellogg Pact, who included both Russia and tho United States.