CONCERN IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21099, 5 February 1932, Page 9

CONCERN IN AMERICA.

GRAVITY OF THE NEWS. SAFETY OF FOREIGNERS. MENACED BY HOSTILITIES. OBDURACY OF JAPANESE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received February 4, 7.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 3. The critical situation in the International Settlement at Shanghai, with the safety c>f foreigners menaced by the continned fighting between the Japanese and Chinese, occupied the exclusive attention of the Government to-day. The news that Mr. Matsudaira and Captain Sato, the Japanese Ambassador to Britain and representative at Geneva respectively. had informed Sir Eric Drummnnd. Secretary-General of the League of Nations, that Japan had rejected two clauses in the Anglo-American peace proposals, namely, the second and the fifth, caused a further feeling of anxiety in the capital " Tile proposals rejected were that no further mobilisation or preparations for hostilities should take place; and that prompt advances be made for negotiations to settle the outstanding controversies between the two nations in the spirit of the Pact of Paris and the" resolution of the League of Nations of December 9 withont prior demand or reservaiions, and with the aid of neutral observers or participants. Co-operation in Settlement Defence. It is understood that the President, Mr. Hoover, believes it to be necessary that the prospective negotiations to settle the difiicnlties should be conducted in the spirit of the Pact of Paris. The State Department to-day was in frequent consultation with the British Government by telephone. The Navy Department has directed Admiral Taylor to assure the other neutral naval and military authorities at Shanghai of 100 per cent, naval and military co-operation by the United States Navy in maintaining the neutrality and safety of the. Internationa] Settlement. These orders went forward after the receipt .of important messages from Admiral Taylor, the contents of which have not been divulged. Demand for Haval Construction. Reports were received from American representatives at Shanghai of the Japanese bombardment of the Woosung forts, the falling of Chinese shells in the Internationa] Settlement, the evacuation of Americans at Nanking, and the feeling of uncertainty in the Yangtse Valley, and at south China ports. In the House of Representatives Mr. L. T. McFadden (B,epublican, Pennsylvania) demanded the introduction ox Mr. C. Vinson's hill for additional naval con- > 1 struct ion. Mr. McFadden said: "The shadow of war clouds rises upon tie Western horizon I and Pacific. A determined military Em- ! ! p?re sweeps aside treaties as they were j swept aside in 1914." j The Foreign Relations Committee of the j Senate decided to defer action on the motion by Mr. C. Dill to prohibit the j j shipment of munitions to China or Japan, j

SHANGHAI CONDITIONS.

CALMNESS OF VOLUNTEERS. CHINESE WOMEN'S HELP. Eritish Wireless. RTTG BY. Feb. 3. Telegrams from Shanghai pay tributes to the men and women volunteers for tbrir calmness under trying conditions and for their efficiency in running, emergency organisations. Great sympathy is felt for tlie inoffensive Chinese 'women, and every possible effort is being made locally to relieve their distress. Tlie volunteers who are engaged, on essential patrol work are reported to be carrying out their difficult task with the utmost tact London newspapers express the hope that yesterday's developments will cause prompt relief of the situation, which has rocsed world opinion in an unmistakable manner.