JAPAN’S DEMAND

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20330, 13 June 1934, Page 1

JAPAN’S DEMAND

TENSE SITUATION AT NANKING. Disappearance of Consul. CHINA GIVEN TILL JUNE 18 TO FIND MISSING MAN. United Press Assn —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 13, 11.10 a.m.) SHANGHAI. June 12. Events in connection with the mysterious disappearance of Mr Kuramoto, Japanese Vice-Consul at Nanking. took a definite turn to-day, when the Consul-General, Mr Suma, called on Mr Wang Ching-wei. Foreign Minister, announcing that the Japanese Government would hold the Chinese Government responsible for his disappearance and all consequences arising from it.

Tokio messages state that the Government is taking no positive steps immediately, giving the Chinese until June 18 to find the missing man. An official communique issued by Vne Japanese Legation at Nanking £pints out that three Japanese have mysteriously disappeared in Central China in the past six months. The communique adds: “The Japanese Government has reserved the right to make any further demands in this connection.”

Chinese official circles neither confirm nor deny reports that Mr Kuramoto was kidnapped and subsequently murdered. Meanwhile the capital’s entire police and garrison forces have been mobilised for an extensive search. No man hunt in the history of China has aroused such interest or produced such anxiety as that existing in the capital to-day. A message from Kobe says:— The gravest developments are threatened with the disappearance of the Vice-Consul, Mr Kuramoto, whose wife says he has lately been shadowed. The Chinese Government is making every effort to clear up the mystery and is offering a substantial reward. Japanese warships are rapidly assembling at Nanking.

A message from Shanghai, published yesterday, stated: Considerable apprehension is felt at the mysterious disappearance of the Japanese ViceConsul t at Nanking, Mr Hideakira Kuramoto. Last Friday night Mr Kuramoto attended at the Nanking railway station to say goodbye to the Japanese Minister. Mr Ariyoshi, who was leaving for Shanghai, since when Mr Kuramoto has not been heard of.