STILL HOPE FOR PEACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 173, 23 July 1929, Page 7

STILL HOPE FOR PEACE

SITUATION IN MANCHURIA

WILL MINOR CLASH CAUSE OPEN WARFARE?

[ Australian Press Assn. ] Received July 22, 11.30 p.m. SHANGHAI, July 22. Though the Chinese President, Chiang Kai-Shek reiterates confidently that the Manchurian situation will be settled amicably, the country everywhere is in a state of suspense, especially in the north where foreign observers fear that the minor clash of opposing troops, either at Manchuli or Progranichnaya, may constitute a spark which will set the border aflame.

REFUGEES ARRIVING POSITION INCREASINGLY GRAVE. (Australian Press Assn.) Rceived July 23, 1.30 a.m. SHANGHAI, July 22. Japanese refugees are arriving at Harbin from Manchuli where the situation is reported to be increasingly critical and hostilities are expected momentarily. CHINESE ENTRENCHING SOVIET ’PLANES DEMONSTRATE [ Australian Press Assn. ] Received July 22, 11.30 p.m. SH NGHAI, July 22. Week-end messages are notably scanty in their reference to military movements on the border. This is believed to be indicative of quietness. According to Japanese messages from Manchuli, the Chinese are digging entrenchments along the northern edge of the town resulting in the inhabitants taking flight and barring their homes against the military. The situation at Pogranichnaya, at the other end of the railway, is quiet, but it is reported that Chinese troops fired on Soviet aeroplanes who retaliated by dropping bombs on Russian territory in a threatening manner as a warning. REPORTED HOSTILITIES NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. [ Australian Press Assn, j SHANGHAI, July 21. Official confirmation of the capture of Manchuli and Pogganichnaya by the Soviet forces is lacking. It appears possible that the reports which were given to Japanese correspondents by Chinese refugees from those towns are based on the continued gunfire demonstration and the Soviet aeroplanes. General Chang Ching Hui (Governor of Keilung Kiang) in a telegram to Pekin denies an outbreak of actual hostilities. On the other hand Nanking to-night received two telegrams from Changh Suchli Liang stating that the Soviet forces, commenced an offensive yesterday in the vicinity of Pogganichnaya, coinciding with the reports of the attack on Manchuli. The Chinese report states that the Chinese troops remained on the defensive, though Japanese reports from the affected zone indi cate an exchange of shots, with the subsequent flight of the Chinese forces. It is also reported that Russian troops are in possession of a number of machines for the purpose of discharging poison gas

It is reliably stated that th e mobilisation at Vladivostock of all men between seventeen and thirty-five is taking place. It is officially announced that all the Japanese residents in Manchuli and Pogganichnaya have been withdrawn; also the massing of 3000 White Cossacks in the Manchuli district.

General Chiang Kai Shek has issued circulars stating that it is “ urgent that the entire army shall rise against Red imperialism and uphold the sovereign right of China. Soviet’s ultimatum to China is impossible. ‘ It involves the national honour. The country must unite in opposition to Red Russia, even though many may perish in the struggle.” Nanking’s manifesto to the world Powers explains that the Soviet Government has utilised the various departments of the Chinese Eastern Railway to promote sinister schemes for assasination, sedition and destruction of China’s internal arrangements. Therefore the seizure of the railway was an act of self-defence. The manifesto declares that the responsibility of the present rupture rests with Russia.

EFFORTS TO KEEP PEACE WESTERN POWERS ACTIVE. [ Australian Press Assn. ] LONDON, July 21. It is semi-officially announced that the British Government has informed the French and American Governments of its co-operation in attempting to relax the Sino-Russian tension Authoritative circles in London do not regard the situation pessimistically, pointing out that the channel for Chinese and Russian communications remains. In Geneva, League circles regard America’s reminder to the Chinese and Russian Governments of their signature of tho Kellogg Pact as an important precedent. It is pointed out in Paris that it was appropriate that the French and American Governments should communicate with China and Russia, seeing that the former inaugurated the pact. American has no official relations with the Soviet, and utilises France’s services in order to communicate with Moscow. The Soviet’s attitude towards the League prevents the League acting usefully. PAN-PACIFIC TREATY. MR. STIMSON’S REMINDER. [ Australian Press Assn. —United Service. ] Received July 22, 10 p.m. WASHINGTON, July 21. The British Ambassador, Sir Esme Howard, on Sunday .informed the Secretary of State, Mr H. L. Stimson, that thgj British Government would be happy to associate itself with the Secretary’s move to bring peace in the Sino-Soviet controversy. The JJritish, French and Japanese Ambassadors, representing three of thg four Powers who are parties to the Pan-Pacific Treaty of 1921, which binds them to confer when peace is threatened in the East, werg consulted on Thursday by Mr Stimson in connection with his calling to the attention of the Soviet and China their obligations under the Kellogg Treaty. RUSSIANS STILL LEAVING . THE MERCHANTS’ OFFER. [ Australian Press Assn. ] SHANGHAI, July 21. Soviet officials continue to leave China, among the recent departures being the Soviet Consul, fourteen officials and women and children. The Chinese merchants have promised the Government 100,000 bags of flour, 10,000,000 dollars, and a regular supply of rice in the event of the necessity of hostilities. FOES OF THE SOVIET WHITE RUSSIANS READY [ Australian Press Assn. ] SHANGHAI, July 21. More than 30,000 White Russians have applied to the Chinese military authorities at Harbin for enlistment in order to fight the Soviet. It is reported that the feeling against the Soviet by the White Russians is verybitter. Young Chang, son of the recentlyassassinated Mukden war lord, and the present ruler of Manchuria, has heeded the requests from the Nanking Government and left Peitaiho, where he has been spending the summer and returned to Mukden, following the receipt of a telegram from Chiang Kai Shek that the situation had taken a turn for the worse.

It is announced by the Chinese locally that the German Government has agreed to assume charge of the Chinese interest's in Russia and Russian interests in China. '