JAPANESE VIEWPOINT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 9

JAPANESE VIEWPOINT

THE CONFLICT IN CHINA JUSTIFICATION OF ACTIONS “ LIFE AND DEATH ” STRUGGLE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. Owing to frequent allegations that Japan’s action in China is a complete breach of the Nine-Power Treaty concerning China, the ConsulGeneral for Japan (Mr K. Gunji) issued a statement to-day on the Japanese point of view. Mr Gunji states: ' , “At the outset I must mention the initial cause of the present SinoJapanese incident. On the evening of July 7, 1937, some 150 Japanese soldiers (stationed in China in accordance with treaty rights) were engaged in manoeuvres on their grounds close to the Marco Polo bridge, Peking. The Chinese authorities had been advised that the Japanese carried no live ammunition. Without warning soldiers of the 37th Division, 29th Chinese Army, opened fire. In the district where the incident occurred there lived 17,000 Japanese civilians, who looked to their national troops for protection. The 150 Japanese retreated and sent for reinforcements, which arrived later. The authorities at Peking, both Chinese and Japanese were immediately intormed and a mediation party was sent to the area. The fighting ceased at 6 a.m. on July 8, but at 3 p.m. and at 6 p.m. the Chinese renewed the hostilities. On July 9, a truce was arranged, but shortly afterwards the Chinese renewed the attack and a truce again was arranged. On July 11, an agreement was reached in the following terms: “ 1. An apology by representatives of the 2Sth Chinese army and punishment of those directly responsible. 2. The Chinese troops to vacate the village and be replaced by peace preservation corps for the purpose of keeping the Chinese troops sufficiently separated from the Japanese. 3. Adequate measures to be taken for curbing the activities of antiJapanese * Blue Shirts ’ and Communists.

Alleged Violation of Agreement

“General Sung Cheh-yuan. com-mander-in-chief of the 29th Chinese Army, provisionally agreed to the above terms and went to Tientsin on July 13 to negotiate a final settlement with the commander of the Japanese garrison, General Katsuki, to whom he personally expressed regret for the affair. The trouble was on the point of settlement when other influances intervened. The Nanking authorities had not imposed themselves on either side, although on July 9 they had despatched troops to North China. The sending of these troops was m violation of the agreement made in 1935 between the Hopei-Chahar Political Council and the Nanking Government, but, despite General Sung Cheh-yuan’s pledge to the Japanese, Chinese troops repeated their attack on the Japanese forces stationed near the Marco Polo bridge. General Sung Cheh-yuan promised the complete withdrawal of the troops by noon on July 21. But on July 21, General Chiang KaiShek and his Nanking advisers were formulating their war policy against Japan. They had never had any intention of adjusting the trouble peacefully. “After the trouble near Peking, hostilities spread all over .the northern district. Then there was a brutal massacre of 200 Japanese civilians at Tungchow by 3000 soldiers of the 29th Chinese Army. The Shanghai incident commenced by the killing of Lieutenant Oyama by Chinese soldiers. On August 14 the Chinese started bombing Shanghai from the air and Chinese bombers dropped bombs at several points, killing many Chinese civilians. The practice of aerial bombardment in the Smo-Japanese conflict in China was begun by the Chinese. Since then the present big-scale campaign has developed. The Nine-Power Treaty “It is sure that the sovereignty, independence, and territorial and administrative integrity of China are guaranteed by the contracting Powers of the Nine-Power Treaty, but there is no stipulation in that treaty to nullify their right of selfdefence and protection of treaty rights. It is exactly the same in the Kellogg Pact. When the British signed it, Sir Austen Chamberlain expressed the following important reservation; ‘The language of Article I as to the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy renders it desirable that I should remind your Excellency that there are certain regions of the world, the welfare and integrity of which constitute a special vital interest for our peace and safety. His Majesty’s Government has been at pains to make it clear in the past that interference with these regions cannot be suffered. Their protection against attack is to the British Empire a measure of self-defence.’

“ Now this is the very crux of the situation and should not be lost sight of when considering the Japanese actions in China. Such an important reservation by the British Government was equally allowable to Japan, to whom the condition of China is a vital matter. The encroachments of a foreign Power — Soviet Russia—and the disorders of the Chinese Government created a situation in China as vitally disturbing to Japan as if a hostile Power were to occupy Ireland and openly make preparations for an armed descent upon the British Isles. Reference to Russia

“ Not only in the case of Manchuria in 1932, but also in the present case, the Chinese Government and local Governments exercised the utmost discrimination against Ja. an in contravention of the existing treaty rights, and in the crisis of 1936-7 the Nationalist Government had no scruples in organising boycotts against Japan and discriminating against her trade and nationals in the most provocative fashion with great help from Soviet Russia. Russia, taking advantage of the chaotic condition of China and intending to establish Soviet influence in China, singled out Japan for attack.

“ Japan has no desire to establish sovereignty over even one square foot of Chinese soil, no more than she has done in Manchuria, which now enjoys a stable system of self-government Of all Japan’s foreign investments more than 80 per cent are located in China The Japanese nation is engaged in a life and death struggle and the Japanese people arc solid!;, supporting their

Governrnnet in this gravest challenge to the security of their country in all its long history. It is a struggle for elf-preservation and the Japanese nation will not be thwarted in it? progress towards its objective.”