‘SERIOUS BUT NOT GRAVE’

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1929, Page 13

‘SERIOUS BUT NOT GRAVE’

RUSSO-CHINESE RUPTURE

VIEWS OF OTHER COUNTRIES RUSSIANS LACK IN TOWER By Telegraph—Preus Assn. —Copyright. Australian Press Association. Received July 19, 7 p.m. London, July 19. A serious but not a grave view is taken In British official circles of the RussoChina diplomatic rupture. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent states that if Moscow had the will it still would lack the power to carry on an external war, especially where the distances are so great. The German Government, says a Berlin message, has agreed to watch the interests of both the Soviet and China. The Russian newspaper Izvestia, says the break in relations with China raises the question of the safety of a considerable part of the Soviet’s eastern frontier and will compel the Soviet Union to take measures for the protection and defence of her territory against possible attempts at confiscation by Chinese or by Russian White Guards. v The Chinese Charge D’Affires and members of the Embassy are leaving Moscow, escorted by a detachment of the O.G.P.U. and Red officers. A powerful air squadron is being established on the Manchurian frontier and the infantry, cavalry and tank divisions are being reinforced. The reference in the Chinese reply to Russia’s ultimatum to Communist propaganda recalls the crisis which almost led to a diplomatic rupture between Russia and China early in June. The trouble which then arose was the immediate sequel to an incident at Harbin, in Northern Manchuria, on May 27, when the Chinese police raided and searched the Soviet Consulate-General, made-a number of arrests and seized a quantity of documents. . The Chinese Ambassador at' Moscow on Juno 1 was refused an audience by the Acting-Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Karakhan, and he was instructed by the Nanking Government to leave Russia, accompanied by his staff, within a week. For a long time there had been tension In tho relationsbetween the Soviet and China and it was greatly increased by tho Harbin raid. A note to . the Chinese Charge d’Affaires in Moscow laid stress on "the violent and unlawful ,/ character” of the entire raid, which? it stated, was accompanied by the theft of articles and money and the maltreatment of. the Consular employees. The Noto declared that the reports emanating from the authorities at Harbin that “meetings of the Third (Communist) International” - took place in the Consulate •were described ns “a senseless invention and a futile attempt to . evade just responsibility for their atrocious, actions.” Enumerating a number of provocative actions taken by the Chinese authorities in connection with tho Embassy and Consulates of the Soviet, beginning with the raid on the Embassy in Peking, the Note said: The Soviet Government has, with endless patience, refrained from any reprisals and has afforded the Chinese Mission and Consulates its usual protection.” Tho Soviet Government was forced, however, to note that its peaceful and friendly attitude was being taken advantage of by influences hostile to the Soviet. It was obliged to lodge a very severe protest against the “atrocities of the police” and to demand the immediate release of the arrested men and the return of the entire correspondence, together with all the stolen articles and money. Tho Note pointed out that since the Chinese authorities through their actions had proved clearly their unwillingness and inability to consider tho universally recognised principles of international law, tho Soviet would no longer be bound by those principles with regard to the Chinese Mission in Moscow and the Chinese Consulates in Russia and that extra territorial right would no longer be afforded them. The Soviet Government said that, while striving to preserve friendly relations with tho Chinese people, it /was obliged emphatically to warn the Nanking Government against further trying tho patience of Russia by. provocative actions and the violations of treaties and agreements. Commenting on tho situation at the time tho Izvestia enumerated several attacks in recent years on Soviet Consulate representatives' in China and said tho incident at Harbin was a link in a long chain of barbarous hostile acts, showing tho lack of desire and the in-’ ability of the Chinese authorities to act according to tho rules of international relations and the elementary principles of international law. The Izvestia denied again that tho Soviet Government aided or bad a union with the “Christian General” Feng Yu-hsiang and ridiculed tho accusations that tho Third International had held a session in the basement of tho Consulate at Harbin. WARNING TO THE JAPANESE. CHINA FEARS INTERVENTION. Shanghai, July 18. An unmistakable warning was delivered to the Japanese against Japanese intervention in the Manchurian question by Yeh Tsud Hang, Koumintang publicity director. Yeh Tsud Hang accused Japanese news agencies of circulating exaggerated and alarming reports, hoping to create the proper atmosphere preparatory to Japanese intervention, the excuse being the interests of nationals in territory coveted by Japan for colonising purposes. Three hundred more car loads of munitions are reported to .have left for the border and several armoured cars ar e preparing to depart.