ANGRY JAPANESE PROTEST

Southland Times, Issue 23376, 7 December 1937, Page 7

ANGRY JAPANESE PROTEST

Destruction Of Flag By Briton DEMAND FOR ACTION BY AUTHORITIES (United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 6, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. A mass meeting of Japanese, incensed by the destruction of a Japanese flag by Mr E. T. Maitland, a British lawyer, during the “victory march through the International Settlement at Shanghai on'Friday, resolved “to assume a determined stand, to take all measure to arrange consideration of the incident by the British Government and people and to impress on them the outrageous and uncondonable nature of the affair.” The Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press understands that the Japanese authorities complied with a request to demand adequate action from the British authorities. Six mounted Japanese sought to enter the western defence sector manned by British troops, at a point where the “victory parade” passed. The British outpost refused to move the barbed wire, upon which the Japanese retired. A Japanese naval spokesman denied a report that the Japanese would occupy Tsung Ming Island, at Hong Kong.

On Friday the Japanese were reported to be in an ugly mood as the result of the flag-breaking, over which Mr Maitland was detained, interrogated and later set free. Japanese cavalry patrolled the streets, all shops were closed, the tram service was at a standstill, and- machine-gunners established posts. Japanese civilians menaced Americans, of whom one was beaten. Nanking road was under martial law and further troops were poured into the zone. STATUS OF FOREIGN AREAS JAPANESE EMPHASIS ON CHINESE CONTROL (Received December 6, 11.30 p.m.) TOKYO, December 6.

Commenting on the recent developments at Shanghai, the spokesman of the Japanese Foreign Office (Mr Tatsuo Kawai), who was formerly ConsulGeneral at Shanghai, asserted that the foreign settlements there had no status as a State and that Chinese sovereignity over them was intact.

Previously Mr Kawai reiterated that the maritime Customs was nowadays an integral pact of the Chinese Government, and the Inspector-General was a mere employee of Nanking, as Dr T. V. Soong pointed out when transferring the Chinese Finance Ministry to Dr H. H. Kung. “Though,” Mr Kawai added, “Japan intends to respect foreign vested interests generally.” JAPANESE “MAYOR” OF SHANGHAI THANKS TO JAPAN FOR “RESCUE” OF CITY (Received December 6, 11.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, December 6. Mr Su Hsi-wen, an educated Japanese, of Fukien, has issued a manifesto proclaiming himself Mayor of “autonomous” greater Shanghai, embracing an area of 193 square miles and formerly administered by the Chinese Mayor, Mr Yui, who has gone to Hankow.

The manifesto thanks the Japanese Army for rescuing Shanghai and promises full co-operation.