GROWING WORSE

Southland Times, Issue 21648, 9 March 1932, Page 5

GROWING WORSE

SHANGHAI SITUATION STUBBORN ATTITUDE OF CHINESE MILITARY ACTIVITIES (United Prwa Assn.— By Telegraph-Copyright) Shanghai, March 7. The Tokio statement that the Japanese intend keeping a permanent garrison here is perturbing the Chinese officials who, however, have not attempted to enter into negotiations regarding the status of the area at present occupied. The local situation is rapidly growing worse. The Chinese refuse to recommence business and the native banks remain closed. The majority of the shops areonly doing a surreptitious business. The Chinese object to foreign interference at Chapei, where the conditions threaten the health of the foreign areas. The Japanese have asked the International Settlement authorities to control the cleaning and policing of Chapei, but they refuse to do so unless asked by the Chinese. In the meantime the Japanese are consolidating their positions on the front there. Planes report heavy concentrations of Chinese at many points beyond the twenty kilometre zone, and incoming passengers by the Yangtze river steamers report heavy firing on Sunday in the Liuho area. DEADLOCK CONTINUES FURTHER HOSTILITIES FEARED. (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) Shanghai, March 8. The situation is unchanged. Both sides are holding defence lines without fighting. A plenary session of the Central Executive of the Chinese Committee at Loyang issued a declaration urging the nation to concentrate definite opposition to the Japanese and fight to the last man to prevent a repetition of the imposition of anything resembling the Japanese 21 demands. The commercial life of Shanghai is practically at a standstill. No progress is being made towards ending the deadlock. Llnless there is a speedy settlment further hostilities on a wide scale are feared. PEACE RESOLUTION ACCEPTANCE BY CHINA. LEAGUE’S RESOLUTION INVOLVED. (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, March 7. China’s acceptance of the peace resolution passed by the General Committee of the League Assembly on Friday was indicated in telegrams from General Chiang Kai-shek and Mr Soong, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, which were read to the Assembly at Geneva tS-day by the Chinese delegate, Mr Ven. During the discussion the British delegate, Sir John Simon, emphasized the importance of local negotiations for a settlement of the dispute. The situation, he said, involved something more than the restoration of peaceful conditions in the Far East. It involved the usefulness of the League. They had to show that the League was indispensable as an instrument of peace. They could not well proceed to discuss the dispute as they were not in possession of all the facts. He suggested that the League Commission of Inquiry having arrived in Manchuria, the delegates should wait until the report was submitted by its members. He was in favour of making a solemn declaration affirming that the fundamental principles of the League would have to be the sole basts for a settlement of disputes.