CHANCES OF PEACE IN ORIENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20783, 19 July 1937, Page 7

CHANCES OF PEACE IN ORIENT

WAR STRONGLY OPPOSED CHINA’S RELIANCE ON TREATIES “DEADLY EFFICIENCY” OF BOYCOTT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 18, 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 16 The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) in a statement, without naming any country, but obviously directed at China and Japan, said: “War in the Far East is impossible without encroaching on American and other interests.” Mr Hull reiterated the traditional American foreign policy and concluded: “We will avoid entering alliances or entangling commitments, but we believe in a co-operative effort, by peaceful means. The Washington correspondent of “The New York Times” says: “It is not believed the United States will take direct action in response to the Chinese appeal under the Nine Power Treaty at present. It is understood that earlier in the day, the Chinese Ambassador requested the United States to invoke the Nine Power Treaty against Japan. CHINA’S STRONGEST WEAPON SIGNS OF ANTI-JAPANESE BOYCOTT United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegranh Coovrleht (Received July 18, 6.30 p.m.) NANKING, July 17 Signs of an anti-Japanese boycott— China’s strongest peaceful weapon—are beginning to appear. The student body, the most powerful engine of public opinion in China, has issued a manifesto, demanding the boycott of Japanese goods pouring in without duty through the frontier of North China. The movement is now extending to all Japanese products, with deadly efficiency. The boycott has already proved it is an impentrable wall, against which no weapon seems effective. CHANGE OF ATMOSPHERE IN TOKIO WELCOMED IN CHINESE CIRCLES United P’-occ ctH’inn Rt Elertr' Tel eer aph —Copyrl sth t (Received July 18, 7.30 p.m.) NANKING, July 17 Reports of a change in the atmosphere of Tokio are welcomed in Chinese political circles, but it doubted whether the Japanese statesmen are able to restrain the army, the rank and file of which is truculent and ready to overthrow the leaders, If they accept a humiliating settlement. China has not yet invoked the Washington Treaty, but has simply issued a memorandum to the interested Powers, explaining the situation.

JAPAN’S LARGE DEMANDS HOPES OF PEACE BELIEVED DWINDLING United Press* Association— Rv Ei°ctri< Telegraph PEKING, July 17 It is reported that the Japanese are demanding the fusion of North Hopei, East Hopei and Chahar into an independent State, with Tientsin as the capital, also the conversion of Tangku into a Japanese naval base, the demilitarisation of the Peking area, including Liu-Kou-Chiao, and that Japanese troops should garrison Peking City. Danger of Delays Domei News Agency says: “Hope for peace is dwindling; owing to delay in the negotiations. There is a steady advance of Chinese troops northwards, and the Agency says that Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek is ready to assume command of them. The Japanese Cabinet announces that the situation does not admit of further procrastination. The Government insists it has no territorial designs on North China. It simply wants a local settlement, with amicable protection of Japanese citizens in China. Conference of Ministers A conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Army, Navy and Finance resolved to accelerate the Chinese Japanese negotiations. « Troop Movements Must Cease ” The Japanese Embassy in Nanking is demanding that the troop movements in North China should cease. The Japanese will no longer tolerate the entry of Chinese troops into the Hopei province. It is confirmed that several Chinese divisions have arrived at Paotingfu, 85 miles south of Peking, and four divisions are at Hopei. CHINA’S NOTE TO POWERS DANGER OF DANGEROUS FLAREUP United Press Assn* latton—By Electric Telegraph rwrishf LONDON, July 16. China has sent a Note to the signatories of the Nine Power Treaty, except Japan, declaring that over 100 Japanese aeroplanes and 2000 troops are concentrated in the Pekin-Tientsin area, ready to precipitate a major clash. The Note accuses the Japanese of repeatedly nullifying, by the resumption of attacks, every Chinese attempt to arrange peace by the mutual withdrawal of troops, and reiterates that the Japanese night manoeuvres on July 7 were carried out in a region in which Japanese had no right to be. “The invasion of North China,”

China’s Note to the Powers insists, "violates China’s sovereignty, and if aggression is permitted to continue it will immediately disturb the peace of East Asia and may entail unforseen consequences throughout the world. China is obliged to employ every means to defend her territory and honour, but is still ready for a peaceful settlement. The Note was also sent to Russia and Germany.