NINE-POWER PACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22862, 18 October 1937, Page 9

NINE-POWER PACT

BELGIAN INVITATION SIGNATORIES TO MEET AMERICANS WILL ATTEND r By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Receved October 17, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 16 A message from Brussels says the Belgian Government has decided — in spite of a hint from the Foreign Secretary, Dr. Spaak, that Germany and Italy might not, in embarrassment over their new guarantee of Belgian integrity, agree to send delegations—to call a conference of signatory nations to the Nine-Power Treaty, to sit on October 30. A message from Tokio says the Japanese Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Tatsuo Kawni, stated that there was a possibilit}' that his country would attend the conference, but not if Japan were branded as an aggressor. The Government is awaiting the agenda before making; a decision. A despatch from New York says the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, has accepted the invitation for America to bo represented at the conference. This announcement almost immediately followed the receipt of the invitation. Mr, Hull has delegated Mr. Norman Davis, who probably will sail within a week, with four advisers, namely Messrs. Stanley Hornbeck, Pierrpont Moffat, Robert Pell and Charles Bohlen. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says it is not expected that the United States delegation will take a leading part in the deliberations of the conference. It intends to retain independence of judgment and does not consider that it will be obliged to fall in with any decisions. Senator K. Pittman in an interview expressed the opinion that the Neutrality Act would not hinder America's co-operation to end the conflict in the ; Far East. He hoped the conference i would quickly settle the entire matter ! and not permit of delay by appointing j mediators and committees, while China I was being destroyed. President Roosevelt said the Brussels ! conference was an attempt to find a method to end the Sino-Japanese hostilities by mediation. If successful it -would point the way to a broader peacepromotion programme. However, it was not yet safe to predict the part America ■would play in future -world diplomacy. Mr. Roosevelt's remarks have left the impression that the United States' programme for the abandonment of its socalled isolationism is etill indefinite. VIGOROUS RAID JAPANESE POSITIONS ALL-NIGHT OPERATIONS HUGE DAMAGE AT SHANGHAI LONDON. Oct. 15 The Chinese Air Force, taking the initiative from the Japanese at Shanghai, raided the enemy's positions all night and destroyed several aeroplanes at the Yangtse-poo aerodrome. General Shih Yu-en, commander of the famous "Ironside Troops," has been appointed Commander-in-Chief at Shanghai, with instructions vigorously to prosecute a counter-offensive. • Chinese officials estimate that the Japanese casualties at Shanghai are about 20,000. The Chinese frustrated an attempt to land reinforcements from 32 transports and 23 warships on the banks of the Yangtse River, 43 miles from Shanghai. The damage at Shanghai so far is estimated at £152.000,000 Eighty per cent of ' the city's trade has been stopped aud 90 per cent of its industrial workers are without employment.

CATHOLICS IN JAPAN ATTITUDE OF VATICAN. TOKIO. Oct. 15 Two hundred thousand Japanese Catholics requested the Foreign Oinee to establish a delegation to Vatican City to declare that Japanese heroes are fighting night and day to bring holy chastisement to the Chinese soldiers. The Apostolic Delegate to Japan, commenting on the movement, stated that the Vatican did not take sides in political controversies. He had received no instructions from the Vatican to assist Japan in her fight against Bolshevism.

EXPLOSIVES SHIPPED (Received October 17, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 16 A telegram from Wilmington states that 300 tons of T.N.T. valued at ]2;"i,000 dollars has been sold by the Du Pont Company to China and shipped by way of Germany. The company in a statement says it has not accepted any orders from China or Japan since the conflict and that the shipment represents a previous commitment.