CHINA’S VIEW

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 366, 7 March 1932, Page 1

CHINA’S VIEW

JAPAN HAS BROKEN PLEDGE. Must Withdraw her Troops. NO PEACE CONFERENCE TILL SOLDIERS MOVE. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 7, 9.5 am.) SHANGHAI. March 6. The Chinese Acting-Minister of Foreign Affairs denies the reported calling of a round-table conference shortly to discuss the settlement of the Shanghai trouble. He says that such a conference is conditional on Japan’s com-

plying with the agreement for the mutual withdrawal of troops to avoid further clashes. So long as the Japanese disregard their pledge, the conference is entirely out of the question. In the meantime the nation is extremely hostile to General Chiang Kaishek f and the Ministry of War, charg-

ing both with selling the 19th Route Army by refusing to send sufficient reinforcements to re cover the territory occupied by the Japanese. A grave situation also faces the authorities at Chapei. where terrible conditions prevail. The general health is endangered by disease, and there is no immediate prospect of sanitary control. .General Shirakawa has announced officially that the Japanese troops will wait quietly in the positions at present occupied, pending the outcome of the peace negotiations, having extended their line some distance outside the twenty kilometres zone. SHANGHAI. March 5. There is no intention among certain sections of the Chinese forces to lay down their arms and permanently cease anti-Japanese hostilities, it was announced by General Wang, Chief of Staff of the 19th Route Army. It is stated that since the Japanese forces have proceeded beyond the twenty-kilometre zone, the Chinese are entitled to resist. Assisted by the Eighty-eighth and Eighty-seventh Divisions and other reinforcements. the 19th Army has established a strong line of defence extending from Kwangtung, to Rating and Taichong, as far as the Yangtse, from which it is intended to institute opposition to any movement of the Japanese beyond the stated zone. The Japanese commander, General Shirakawa, has officially explained that military exigencies compelled the Japanese troops to proceed beyond twenty kilometres and that the occupation of Kwangtung was imperative for the protection of Nanziang. which is now the headquarters of General Uyeda. The authorities of the French Concession are concerned over the concentration of a large force of Chinese troops beyond Nantao. on the southern outskirts of Shanghai. Strong entrenchments arc being prepared. False rumours circulated from Shanghai regarding Chinese victories caused the Chinese populace to make unprecedented demonstrations, and there is still considerable difficulty ir. persuading the Chinese forces to agree to cease hostilities, owing to differing factions.