RUSSIA’S WARNING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 9

RUSSIA’S WARNING

ULTIMATUM TO CHINESE TROUBLE OVER THE RAILWAY MUCH MILITARY ACTIVITY CHINESE IGNORING THREAT JAPANESE ALSO PREPARE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press /Association. United Service. Moscow, July 14. A Note has been handed to the Chinese Charge d’Affaires proposing: An immediate conference to regulate the questions of the Chinese Eastern Bailway. That the Chinese authorities shall cancel the arbitrary orders regarding the railway. The immediate release of the arrested ■Soviet officials. The Note warns the Mukden Nationalist Government that it should weigh seriously the consequences of the rejection of the proposals. In the event of an unsatisfactory answer in three days the Soviet will be “compelled to resort to other means for the protection of the lawful rights of the Soviet Bepublic.”

‘WAR WOULD BE HOPELESS’

RUSSIA’S VITAL RAILWAY RIGHTS. SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN BY PRESS. Sun Cable. London, July 15. "A serious view is taken of the SinoRussian situation," says the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail. The Vorwaerts points out that Russia’s treaty rights in the Chinese Eastern Railway is a matter of life and death. If Russia loses its hold of communication between Moscow and Vladivostock, Siberia will be endangered and access to the Pacific will be jeopardised. Russia must choose between war with China and abandoning Vladivostock and the Pacific coast.

“If it is true, as is reported at Moscow, that Japan has made a secret military treaty with China, the Soviet’s position is desperate and she may be ■obliged to appeal to the League of Nations to save her; it is hopeless to go to war,” the Vorwaerts adds.

The seizure of the Chinese Eastern Railway by the Chinese is nearing completion, said an earlier message. Eight hundred Soviet officials and employees have been dismissed since yesterday apd reorganisation of various phases of the railway administration is proceeding. Soviet officials are still silent regarding the incident. Dr. Wang, Nationalist Foreign Secretary, consistently avoids, interviews. Russia’s reply is keenly awaited. Three Russian offices in Harbin were closed on Wednesday by the Chinese authorities. Twenty important Soviet officials were arrested for the purpose of deportation to Russia, together with a further 40 Soviet railway employees and trade union officials. General Lu Yung Huan, directorgeneral of the Chinese Eastern Railway, presented a Note to the Soviet directors of the same railway demanding the cessation of Soviet propaganda by employees of the Soviet on ,that railway.

ULTIMATUM SOON EXPIRES

THE DEPORTATIONS CONTINUE.

JAPAN AND CHINA PREPARE.

Received July 16, 12.5 a.m. Shanghai, July 10.

Notwithstanding Moscow’s ultimatum that it “will be compelled'to resort to means other than negotiation for the protection of its lawful right” unless China released the arrested Russian employees and the Chinese Eastern Railway cancelled its illegal orders, Harbin reports further deportations of Russians, including the general manager, and his assistants, Emshanoff and Eissymont.

The ultimatum, which was handed to the Chinese Charge d’AH'aires at Moscow on July 13, expires to-morrow. It is reported that the Mukden authorities are prepared for any emergency that is likely to arise. The co-operation of Chiang-Kaishek and Chang-Hsue-Illiang, the Mukden warlord, is assured. Japan is likewise preparing for eventualities and there is much military activity of the Japanese Manchurian garrison.

Professor Screbriakoff is reported to have been appointed a plenipotentiary to negotiate with the Chinese who meanwhile are reiterating that the Soviet had violated the railway agreement.