FAR EASTERN CRISIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18063, 13 April 1933, Page 7

FAR EASTERN CRISIS

NEW DANGER ARISING CHARGE AGAINST SOVIET PREPARATIONS FOR WAR (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United I'ress Assn.) LONDON, April 12. Newspapers are directing attention .to the danger of a new crisis in the Far East. The Japanese Government is said to be preparing to seize the Russiancontrolled Chinese Eastern Railway, on the grounds of the Soviet’s alleged withdrawal of 50 per cent, of the railway stock from Manchuria to Russian territory. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says that the Soviet’s action seems to furnish Japan and Manyhukuo witli a plausible argument for assuming control of the Chinese Eastern Railway, which nught lead ultimately to the Japanese occupation of Vladivostok. The Harbin Times, a Japanese-owned paper, editorially argues that the Soviet is obviously preparing for war, stating that over £0 per cent, of the Chinese Eastern Railway rolling stock lias been evacuated into Russia, equivalent to systematic stealing. The Soviet claims that the stock originally belonged to the Kerensky Government, but if so, why was the claim not made earlier? The editor alleges that the Soviet is openly lying, and demands that Russia should apologise without raising the question of ownership. It believes that the Soviet having pro-determined on war, is hurriedly increasing the transport facilities of the Siberian railways which at present are absolutely ruined.