CHINA’S STAND

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 7

CHINA’S STAND

NO DIRECT NEGOTIATION JAPANESE'DIGGING TRENCHES ‘WARLIKE PREPARATIONS” STATIONS KEEPING WATCH KNIVES FLASH IN SHANGHAI By 'Telegraph—Press Asjsn.—Copyright. Rec. 1.8 a.m. Shanghai, Oct. 16. The Nanking Government to-day reiterated the previous announcement that China under no circumstances would enter into direct diplomatic negotiations with Japan while Japanese troops occupied Chinese territory outside the zone of the South Manchurian railway. Telegraphic messages from Manchuria state Japan is increasing, the number 'of troops, digging trenches and making other warlike preparations. Although the United States is the only nation that has dispatched an official commission to investigate the Manchurian situation, Mukden is rapidly filling with unofficial observers from different Peiping and Tokio Legations. Rowdyism is increasing at Shanghai. Groups are parading the north-eastern districts of the international settlement reproving anti-Japanese posters. Knives flashed late last night during mob riots, Japanese residents taking the law into their owp hands as the settlement authorities refuse to interfere. LEAGUE COUNCIL DISCUSSION AMERICA TO BE INVITED LIMITS OF COLLOBpRATION British Wireless. Rugby, Oct. 15. Lord Reading and M. Briand had a lengthy conversation at Geneva to-day on the 'Sino-Japancse problem, and the special committee appointed by the League Council held a meeting. It was stated that the Japanese delegate, Mr. Yoshizawa, who is consulting Tokio on the point about United States collaboration, himself sees no political objection to it. <The' Chinese delegate yesterday welcomed it. The Governments of both parties to the dispute have been strongly urged to prevent exacerbation of the situation while the matter is. being considered by the Council. A special committee afterwards discussed with Mr. Yoshizawa the communique to the Council in which the Japanese Government expressed doubts about the judicial character of the Council’s invitation to the United States to take part in the discussions. Lord Reading said the question of principle regarding the 'collaboration of the United States, had been settled already in September with the consent of Japan,.and the. question now arising was only a simple change in the methods of this collaboration. • Mr. Ybehizawa alone at to-night’s plenary session voted against the plan to enable invitations to ba extended to the United States. It is hoped that Japan will yield once it is clear that the Council'does. not intend to abandon the invitation, which will probably be transmitted to-morrow. It is stated that if invited the United States will co-operate, but this cooperation with the League will be confined solely to the Manchurian question. U.S.A. MAY IGNORE PROTESTS. READY TO AOC.OPT INVITATION. Rec. 10.30 p.m. Washington, Oct. 15, It was announced to-night that the United States is ready to ignore the Japanese protests and accept the League of Nation’s invitation to participate in the discussion on the Manchurian crisis.