FUTURE OF CHINA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23316, 8 April 1939, Page 14

FUTURE OF CHINA

SECRET AGREEMENT EX-PREMIER AND JAPAN A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT RIVAL FOR KAI-SHEK By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April •7, 5.5 p.m.) CHUNGKING, April 6 Details are published of an alleged secret agreement between the Prime Minister of Japan, Baron Iliranuma, and Mr. Wang Chingwei, under which an endeavour will be made to cut off China from the Soviet and French lndo-China and establish Mr. Wang Ching-wei as head of a central government at Nanking. After that he -would oppose Marshal Chiang Kai-shek and negotiate for peace in accordance with Prince Konoye's terms.

It was reported on January 2 that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek had ordered the arrest of the Minister of Communications, Mr. Peng Hsueh-pei, for providing an aeroplane for the escape of Mr. Wang Ching-wei, formerly Premier, of Nationalist China. An official decree ordered the arrest of all rebels, to whom extreme punishment was promised. This was interpreted as applying to Mr. Wang, who was deprived of all his posts for violation of discipline endangering the State. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, after the receipt of Mr. Wang's message urging negotiations with Japan, summoned the Kuomintang executive and suggested giving Mr. Wang time to repent, but the meeting decided to order his life-long expulsion, which is tho greatest loss of face that can be inflicted. Tlio executive reaffirmed the principle of fighting to a finish. ... , Mr. Wang's followers, in his absence in parts unknown, issued his statement to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, re-stating Japan's peace terms and recommending them as a basis for discussion, but insisting as a preliminary on the total withdrawal of Japanese forces from China. The Chinese as a whole deplored Mr. Wang's attitude.

AGAINST BRITAIN CHINESE AGITATION 52 SOCIETIES FORMED JAPANESE-CONTROLLED AREAS SHANGHAI, April 5 Five thousand Chinese at Kaifengj which is under Japanese control, demonstrated against Britain to-day, condemning British aid to China and advocating driving the British from the Far East. Fifty-two anti-British associations "have been formed in Japanese-controlled areas in Central China. Fifteen _ thousand Chinese at Nanking have joined. The press announces a boycott of British goods. The Chinese have closed the treaty port of Ningpo, which is seriously hampering British shipping. The Japanese bombed Changsha and hit the United States mission and destroyed 100 houses. Twenty people were killed and 21 wounded.

SPRATLEY ISLAND JAPAN'S OCCUPATION STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE (Received April 7, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 6 The administration of Spratley Island has been given to Formosa by Japan, says a message from Tokio. Tho Japanese Admiralty recalls that Japan has been working the phosphates on the island since 1917. In the House of Commons to-day the Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr. E. A. Butler, stated that a protest against the Japanese occupation of Spratley Island was primarily a matter for France, as sovereign claimant. He agreed that tho island was of great strategic importance.

JAPANESE ARMS SUPPLIES IN MANCHUKUO PURCHASES FROM AMERICA (Received April 7, 7.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April G The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordetl Hull, revealed that Japan has accumulated largo supplies of American war material in Manchukuo for possible future operations. American exports to Manchukuo increased from 3,5-12,000 dollars in 1936 to 17,005,000 dollars in 1938. They were primarily oils, motorvehicles and raw cotton.