AID FOR CHINA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23830, 4 December 1940, Page 10

AID FOR CHINA

UNITED STATES PLANS PROPOSALS APPROVED MR. HULL STRESSES NEED B.v Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (.Received December ,">, G. 50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 The joint committee on monetary affairs of the United States Senate and House of Representatives unanimously approved proposals to extend financial aid to China, and to help stabilise Chinese currency. The Secretary of State, Mr, Cordell Hull, in a statement to the press said: "This is such a vital matter. It is the least we can do in return for the job that the Chinese are doing." Members of Congress saic that Mr. Hull and the Secretary to the Treasury. Mr. H. 31. Morgenthau, told the committee that America's position in the Pacific was at stake. Aid to China was essential in order to maintain the status quo in the Far East and was an integral part of the United States defence agenda.

PUPPET REGIME . 1 JAPAN'S SERIOUS PLIGHT i ; CHINESE LEADER'S VIEW (Received December U, 0.50 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Dec. The head of the Chinese Government. Chiang Kai-shek, expressed the opinion that the Japanese recognition of the banking puppet regime was an insult to the intelligence of both the Japanese and Chinese people and "a great blot on Japanese national prestige," because it would prolong instead of shorten hostilities. The Chinese leader blamed the Japanese Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, for Japan's plight—in the first place for starting the war with China; secondly, for signing the Anti-Comintern Pact; thirdly, for defining Japan's "new order" policy, and fourthly, for recognising the Nanking regime, all of which would prolong hostilities. Apparently addressing his remarks to "Washington, Chiang urged the United States to continue a firm Far East policy in spito of the war in Europe. He described Japan as "a potentially boundless curse to the Pacific." Chungking officials state that the Chinese smashed the Japanese multiplepronged offensive along the 150-mile front from Fishang. North Hupeh, to Tangying, North-east Ichang, at the week-end, killing more than 12,000 Japanese in a score of scattered and sanguinary battles. HOSTILITIES DEVELOP

INDO-CHINA AFFAIR THAI AIR FORCE ACTIVE LONDON, Dec. '2 It is officially sin tod in Hanoi i hat several Thai aeroplanes dropped nine bombs but failed to hit the 500-ton French armed river boat Beryle, near Kone Island, in the Gulf of Siam. after which tno aeroplanes renewed the attack. The Beryl-) then returned the fire and is believed to have damaged one aeroplane, which escaped. Thai troops occupied Bandong, an unprotected island on the Mekong River. The President of the Thai State Council. Luang Bipul Songgram, in a communique, stated that the Thai Air Force bombed military objectives at Thakhek on Saturday. Ten bombs directly hit anti-aircraft. batteries within tlit; demilitarised zone and also a i'Tench troop concentration. it. is officially stated that the French Roman Catholic Bishop of the Thai part of Laos, Monsignor Gouin, and also Father .Malawi, and Sister I'rsulo. arrived at fhakhek from Thailand on Sunday, after being arrested in Thailand. where they were allegedly exposed to public view for six hours conlined in an iron cage, before they were expelled to Indo-China without permission to take their possessions.