HOPE OF PEACE DWINDLING

Southland Times, Issue 23255, 19 July 1937, Page 7

HOPE OF PEACE DWINDLING

CHINESE TROOPS MOVE NORTH

JAPANESE DEMANDS REPORTED NANKING’S FEAR OF ARMY TRUCULENCE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received July 18, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. A conference of the Japanese Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Army, the Navy and Finance resolved to accelerate the negotiations between China and Japan. The Domei news agency (Tokyo) says that hope for peace is dwindling because of the delay in the negotiations There is a steady advance of Chinese troops northwards, and the agency says that the President (Marshal Chiang Kai-shek) is ready to assume command cf them. The Japanese Cabinet has announced that the situation does not admit of further procrastination The Government insists that it has no territorial designs on North China; it simply wants a local settlement with the amicable protection of Japanese citizens in China. However, it is reported from Peiping that the Japanese are demanding the fusion of the North Hopei, East Hopei and Chahar provinces into an independent State, with Tientsin as the capital; the conversion of Tangku into a Japanese naval base; the demilitarization of the Peiping area, including Liukouchiao; and that Japanese troops should garrison Peiping city. The Japanese Embassy at Nanking demanded that hte movements of troops in North China cease; Japan would no longer tolerate the entry of Chinese troops into the Hopei province. It is confirmed that several Chinese divisions have arrived at Paotingfu, 85 miles south of Peiping, and four divisions at Hopei. Reports of a change in the atmosphere at Tokyp are welcomed in Chinese political chicles, but it is doubted whether the Japanese statesmen are able to restrain the Army, the rank and file of which is truculent and ready to overthrow its leaders if they accept a humiliating settlement NOTE TO POWERS China has not yet invoked the Washington Treaty, but has simply issued a memorandum to the interested Powers explaining the situation The Chinese Note was sent to the signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty, except Japan, declaring over 100 Japanese aeroplanes and 20,000 troops were concentrated in the Peiping-Tientsin area ready to precipitate a major clash. China accused the Japanese of repeatedly nullifying by the resumption of attacks every Chinese attempt to arrange peace by the mutual withdrawal of troops, and reiterated that Japanese night manoeuvres were carried out in a region in which the Japanese had no right to be. The Note added that the invasion of North China violated China’s sovereignty, and if aggression was permitted to continue it would immediately disturb the peace of East Asia and might entail unforeseen consequences throughout the world. China would be obliged to employ every means to defend her territory and honour but was still ready for a peaceful settlement. The Note was also sent to Germany and Russia. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek sent a telegram to Sung Cheh-yuan, chairman of the Hopei-Chahar Council, reiterating that no agreement with the Japanese detrimental to Chinese sovereignty was acceptable. Sung Cheh-yuan is reported to be a virtual prisoner of the Japanese; he will be unable to leave Tientsin if the negotiations fail. Three thousand Chinese troops are reported to have surrounded the Japanese concession at Hankow.

BOYCOTT OF JAPAN’S GOODS CHINA USES STRONGEST PEACEFUL WEAPON (Received July 18, 6.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, July 17. Signs of an anti-Japanese boycott— China’s strongest peaceful weapon—are beginning to appear. The Student body, the most powerful engine of public opinion in China, has issued a manifesto demanding a boycott of the Japanese goods which are pouring in without duty through the frontier of North China. The movement- is now extending to all Japanese products with deadly efficiency. The boycott has already proved that it is an impenetrable wall against which no weapon seems effective.