CREDITS FOR CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 9

CREDITS FOR CHINA

BRITISH AND AMERICAN SUPPORT JAPANESE COMPLACENCY SHOCKED SOLDIERS NOT IMPRESSED (I'nlted Press- Association) 'By Electric Teleerarh—Copyright) LONDON. Dec. 16. (Received Dec. 18, at 4 p.m.) The Tokio correspondent of The Times says that the announcement that China was obtaining American credits severely shocked Japanese complacency. The blow was not softened by reports that Britain will follow suit. America's initiative shatters illusions resulting from the economy of truth by the press, which persuaded the public that Britain was China's orincipal friend, whereas the United States was " truly neutral, fully alive to British wiles, and determined not to draw British chestnuts from the fire." Washington's vigorous protest last month obliged the press to admit that American opposition to Japan's policy in China was serious. Doubts were recently expressed whether the Foreign Office's " positive" policy towards Britain, coupled with efforts to placate America, was working well. The sojdiers do not believe, however, that loans will restore the morale of Marshal Chiang Kaishek's harried armies, and consider that the active phase of the war is ended. It was announced from Washington on Saturday that credits totalling 25,000,000 dollars had been authorised for Chinese interests for the purchase of American agricultural and manufactured products. Reference was also made to reports that Britain was about to extend credits to China. TROUBLE IN MANCHUKUO WHISPERINGS* OF REVOLT LONDON, Dec. 16. The Daily Herald's Hongkong correspondent says that should the Chinese war be prolonged a largescale anti-Japanese revolt in Manchukuo is inevitable. Already Manchukuo is in the throes of grave internal trouble. The Japanese are rushing up thousands of troops, and there are daily whisperings of a new revolt. 'JAPANESE PRECAUTIONS CORDON ROUND CONCESSIONS TIENTSIN, Dec. 17. (Received Dec. 18, at 11 p.m.) Ostensibly to scrutinise any antiJapanese Chinese elements entering, Japanese troops have placed a cordon round the British and French concessions at Tientsin to hold up traffic, threatening a week-end shortage of meat and vegetables. The Japanese allege non-co-operation by the consular body, which retorts that local anti-Jap-anese activities have long ceased. The Yellow River is flooded for 300 square miles. It is feared that 2000 people have been drowned.