DISPUTE IN FAR EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 11

DISPUTE IN FAR EAST.

JAPANESE CONCILIATORY.

WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS.

AGREEMENT FIRST NEEDED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received March 12, 12.35 a.m.) SHANGHAI. March 11. The Japanese authorities announce that should a complete agreement with the Chinese be reached the Japanese troops will commence to withdraw from the Shanghai area, leaving a small contingent sufficient to ensure the safety of Japanese residents. Chinese officials estimate their killed and wounded soldiers at 9000 and the Japanese killed and wounded (navy and irmy) roughly at 2500. However, it is estimated that the Chinese casualties were considerably moro than the figure stated.

LEAGUE ASSEMBLY.

EFFORT FOR SETTLEMENT. A PROPOSED COMMISSION. British Wireless. RUGBY, March 10. The text of a resolution on the SinoJapaneso dispute to be brought before tho general committee of tho League of Nations Assembly was circulated among the delegates to-day and its terms were telegraphed by their representatives to tho Japanese and Chinese Governments. Hie text is of considerable length and is based on articles of the Covenant of the League and tho Paris Peace Pact. It is divided into four paragraphs. Tho first lays down tho fact that the Assembly recognises that tho Covenant can be applied to the present dispute. The second asserts that it is contrary to the spirit of the League and the Covenant to i'lid a solution by military pressure.

The third clause deals with the previous resolutions of the Council and the principles which were laid down, including the withdrawal of Japanese forces. The fourth provides for the establishment of a commission, including the President of the Assembly, M. Paul Hymans (Belgium) and all the members of the Council, except the representatives of Japan and China, and six from the Assembly, to bo elected by ballot. The general purpose of the commission will be to supervise and promote peace negotiations.

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN.

STATEMENT IN COMMONS.

NEW JAPANESE TERMS

(Received March 11, 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, March 10.

The Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Captain R. A. Eden, stated in the House of Commons that the terms drawn up at the conference on the cruiser Kent for a cessation of hostilities at Shanghai had been superseded as far as Japan was concerned by others which would be published shortly. So far the Chinese had not accepted the new terms, but both Governments were parties to the resolution of the Assembly of the League of Nations of March 4. Although no agreement on the 6pot had been reached, the British Government was doing its utmost to overcome the hitch. It neither intended nor desired to introduce extraneous matter.

READY TO NEGOTIATE, ATTITUDE OF CHINESE. REPLY TO JAPANESE NOTE. SHANGHAI, March 10. The Chinese authorities have replied to the Japanese memorandum regarding negotiations for peace. The reply states that the Chinese Government, in accordance with the resolution passed by the Council of the League of Nations on March 4, is prepared to enter into negotiations on tho understanding stated by Dr. Yen at Geneva, that these are limited to matters relating to the definite cessation of hostilities, and the complete withdrawal of Japaneso forces, no condition being attached to such withdrawal.