JAPANESE SIGN AGREEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 25763, 29 August 1945, Page 5

JAPANESE SIGN AGREEMENT

OVERALL SURRENDER LATER (Rec. 8 p.m.) RANGOON, August 27. Lieutenant-General Numata and other envoys from Japanese Southern Command Headquarters signed the “local agreement” with LieutenantGeneral F. A. M. Browning at Government House late tonight. The instrument signed gives the Allied forces facilities to begin the immediate relief of prisoners of war and internees and enables preliminary local steps to be taken to clear the way for an overall surrender as soon as possible. Burly, short-sighted Numata faced more lights and maceras than a Hollywood film star, when he signed the agreement, says the Rangoon correspondent of The Daily Express. The glare was so bright that Numata was forced to shade his eyes as he brushed his spidery signature with quick, deft strokes. Fifty journalists, wearing sun-glasses for protection against the arc lights, watched the ceremony. Disagreements among the Japanese, necessitating their retirement for private consultations, three times postponed the signing. CHINESE PARTIES Conference Urged By Communists (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 27. In a broadcast over Yenan radio the Communists urged a conference of all Chinese parties, the establishment of a democratic coalition Government and preparations for a freely elected national assembly, the delineation of the areas in which Japanese surrenders could be received, recognition of the legal status of all parties and groups, with the extension of civil liberties and the release of political prisoners, the severe punishment of traitors and the disbanding of puppet troops. The broadcast added that the Chinese Communists knew that the important task today was to consolidate internal unity and promote co-operation between the Allies. Yenan radio also announced that Chinese Communists have occupied Kelgan, the capital of Chahar province.