JAPAN AND CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21598, 19 March 1932, Page 11

JAPAN AND CHINA

SHANGHAI NEGOTIATIONS REPORT TO THE LEAGUE (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, March 17. (Received March 18, at 5.5 p.m.) At a private meeting yesterday at Geneva of the special committee appointed by the Assembly of the League of Nations to watch the developments in the' negotiations at Shanghai in the SinoJapanese dispute, a report was made by the president, M. Paul Hymans, who stated that he had been informed by Baron Sato that a provisional settlement between the Chinese and Japanese representatives had been reached for a permanent cessation of hostilities* According to press reports from Shanghai the draft proposals provided for the Chinese troops remaining in the present positions pending a later settlement, the Japanese troops to withdraw as far as possible within the International Settlement. The Chinese Government, it is understood, has accepted the proposals, as assisting further negotiations. The Japanese Government’s reply has not yet been received. Meanwhile press reports state that the Chinese take exception to the form in which the third of the three proposals has been referred to Tokio, on the ground that it implies a revival of the proposal for a neutral zone.

COMMITTEE OF NINETEEN DECISION TO ADJOURN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 17. (Received March 18* at 5.5 p.m.) After some discussion regarding the situation in Shanghai the League Assembly’s Committee of 19, which met at Geneva this afternoon, decided, in view of the present state of the negotiations which ' afe being conducted at Shanghai, to adjourn and be called again only in case of emergency. SOME HOPEFUL PROGRESS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 17. (Received March 18, at 6.5 p.m.) In answer to a question in the House of Commons concerning the steps taken at Shanghai to carry out the proposals contained in the resolution of the League Assembly, Sir John Simon said that during the last day or two, on the invitation of Sir Miles Lampson, Chinese and' Japanese representatives at Shanghai had been meeting with Sir Miles and representatives of Italy, France, and the United States. His information was that' these conversations had made some hopeful progress, though they had also indicated that there were some difficulties. At the moment, however, it was impossible to speak with complete confidence, and he desired not to prejudice the chance of a final agreement by a statement regarding the points of controversy. FRIEND OF CHINA . ENGLISHMAN’S POWER.. LONDON) March 10. Mr Morris Abraham Cohen, war lord, diplomatist, merchant, financier, reformer, and idealist, who started life in poverty in the East End of London 40 years ago, is now the financial and diplomatic force behind modern China., . His brother, a Manchester merchant, told the' Daily Mail that he believed Mr Morris Cohen was the real President of China, He holds the rank of. general in the Chinese 19th Army (which fought in the Shanghai war zone). Mr Cohen frequently writes to his family telling them that he hopes to be instrumental in creating a united China, with a Government similar to those, of Western empires. Mr Morris Cohen started life without any assets, except a roving disposition and a far-seeing appreciation of, and sympathy with, Orientals. He befriended Chinese settlers in Canada, and mobilised a Chinese labour battalion, which served in France. He met Chinese officials who, after the war, elected him to a powerful secret political organisation. Mr Cohen’s financial and organising ability enabled him to become a powerful factor, and to rise in the Chinese Nationalist party, eventually bringing to Britain valuable Chinese orders.