PEACE OFFER DENIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25259, 20 July 1945, Page 7

PEACE OFFER DENIED

NEW YORK RUMOURS HEAVY STOCK SELLING (Reed. 6.80 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 18 Persistent reports of Japanese peace feelers have plunged the New York stock market to the lowest level for three months. A wave of speculation, amounting almost to hysteria, reached the dramatic proportions which preceded the end of the European war. A State Department spokesman said that there Was no truth in the report that Generalissimo Stalin had brought to Potsdam a Japanese offer to surrender on specified terms. He said that there had been no peace offer from Japan either through official or unofficial sofirces. The statement of denial made earlier in the month by the Under-Secretary of State, Mr J. C. Grew, still held good. In spite of this denial, selling orders poured into the Stock Exchange' and 1,450.000 shares changed hands todav, compared with 1.560,000 yesterdav arid 790.000 on Mondav.

.The Tokyo radio, quoting the Zurich correspondent of the Japanese %newspaper Asahi, says there is reason to believe that Russia will not consent to American propositions, and, therefore, that forecasts of Russia entering the war against Japan are mistaken.

RIOTING IN TURIN ANTI-FASCIST OUTBURST MILAN, Jnly 18 Several thousand men stormed the building of the Turin newspaper La Stampa and destroyed the library, which was one of the best in Northern Italy. Thev burned 50,000 copies of the newspaper. The police said that the violence followed a general strike staged as a protest against the publication of La Stampa under the same name as it bore in the Fascist era. There were no casualties. The strikers returned to work at midday. » Four other journals are published at the La Stampa plant, but the Communist and Socialist organs use other offices.

EIRE'S CONSTITUTION

DEBATE CONTINUES (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Jnly 19 The Dail last night continued its debate on the constitution. An Independent member said it would be disastrous if Eire walked out of the British Commonwealth. Another described the position as a constitutional monstrosity, as the President' of Eire was head of the State for internal matters, while the King was the head for external purposes When Mr De Valera was asked why Eire was not represented at recent Commonwealth conferences, he said the country had not been invited. He added that he would not go cap in hand for invitations to such conferences. However, if Britain and other members of the Commonwealth were discussing war matters he quite understood why Eire had not been invited. It is announced that the order forbidding belligerent warships to enter Eire's ports has been revoked.

NEW JAPANESE MINISTER NEW YORK, July 18 The Tokyo radio announced that Lieu-tenant-General Tadaichi Wakamatsu, one of Japan's outstanding strategists, has been appointed Vice-Minister of War, replacing Lieutenant-General Shibayama.

TANGIER DISCUSSIONS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 18 The tripartite conference on Tangier, which was being held in Paris, is adjourned until August, says the Press Association diplomatic correspondent. The Big Three at Potsdam will consider Russia's reauest to tnlcc part.

BROMLEY M.P.'S DEATH LONDON. July 17 The sudden 'death today of Sir Hdward Campbell, member of the Housr of Commons for Bromley, Kent, will necessitate a. by-election if be is returned on July 26. His constituency is regarded as & fiafo Conservative #eat..