CONFLICT IN CHINA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22853, 7 October 1937, Page 11

CONFLICT IN CHINA

GREAT LONDON PROTEST CHECK ON JAPAN SOUGHT MODERN WARFARE HORRORS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON Oct. 5 Thousands of people thronged the Albert Hall to protest against Japanese aggression. They witnessed films of bombing over China showing all the horrors of scenes in the war zones. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who presided, said he did not wish to affect the traditional friendship between Britain and Japan. He knew that many Japanese Christians were distressed at his presence at the meeting, but he wondered how far they knew the facts which had reached Britain. He said he could not join a call to Britain to act alone, as solitary action would be ineffective. Moreover, it might involve consequences affecting Britain and Japan, and even Europe, which no thinking man could overlook.

"Nevertheless," he said, "we are entitled to ask the Government, if protest and appeal are unavailing, to announce that it is prepared to act if it can obtain support to make some form of economic action effective. Moreover, the nightmare of a nation using every power of science to deal destruction to helpless multitudes has become a reality, the lesson of which is to secure the total abolition of bombing aircraft before it is too late." The Archbishop urged prayer to move rulers to enable the restoration of peace.

The Earl of Lytton said the most humiliating factor in the tragedy was that Japan had copied her methods from European precedents in Spain and the Mediterranean, and from Prussian frightfulness.

Mr. Herbert Morrison (Labour) appealed for American co-operation in economic and financial pressure against Japan.

Lady Bonham-Carter demanded that the Government lead an economic boycott against Japan. The meeting, standing, carried a resolution on the lines of the Archbishop of Canterbury's address.