INCIDENT CLOSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 306, 27 December 1937, Page 7

INCIDENT CLOSED

ATTACK ON PANAY AMERICAN NOTE TO JAPAN JAPANESE. REPLY ACCEPTED BIT FUTURE SAFEGUARDS DESIRED Received Dec. 26, 8.10 p.m. ] WASHINGTON, Dec. 25. I Barring further incidents and, ■ with the exception of the fonnali ity of ascertaining and collecting indemnities, the bombing of the ] Panay became a closed incident when Mr Cordell Hull sent a Note j : to Japan accepting the reply conditional on the observance in fu- • ture of the United States’ rights ! ; in China. ; Mr Hull’s Note described the Japan- I esc actions against repetition of the I incident only as “responsive," and did j not take issue on the Japanese asser- ; tion that the bombing was accidental, j The Note merely stated that the j United States preferred to rely on its | own naval report regarding the de- j liberate character of the attack, and j closed with what might be interpreted > j as a veiled threat, namely an earnest [ “hope” against repetition. A message from Tokio states that | the text of the Japanese reply handed to the American Ambassador revealed that rigid orders have been issued to the army, navy and Foreign Office to pay increased attention against infringement. of foreign interests, and maintain closer contact with American authorities. It adds that in addition io the recall of thj flying corps commander, “members of the staff of the fleet, the commader of the flying squadron and others responsible will be dcalt-with according to law.” The text points out that the Japan- ! ese Navy issued, without delay, strict orders “to exercise the greatest can- ] tion in every area where | and other vessels belonging to , America or any third Power, are i present, for the purpose of avoiding a recurrence of a similar mistake, even ; at the sacrifice of strategic advantage I in attacking the Chinese troops. ATTACK WAS DELIBERATE U.S.A. NAVY BOARD REPORT. , SURVIVORS FIRED ON. Received Dee. 26, 8 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 25. I The Naval Board report of the) Panay incident supplements the’ Hughes report, supporting him and) eye. fitnesses in every detail. It is pointed out that the Japanese I knew four hours before the bombing j that the Panay and tankers were to | be anchored al the point where the at- I tack occurred subsequently. In per-; J'eetly clear weather the survivors were fired on by Japanese machine-; gulls, both aerial ami from the shore batteries, while the Japanese boarded the Panay before bombing. “ INTERNATIONAL BANDITRY ” j SEEDS SOWN LONG AGO HITLER. Ml SSOIJNI AND JAPAN INDICTED. Received Dec. 21, 6 n.m. NEW YORK. Dec. 21. i The New York Times, in a threecolumn leader, states that the seed of international banditry, which sprouted the bombs and bullets that destroyed the Panay were sown long before the Japanese invaded China this year in violation of the treaties. Theye were sown by Signor Mussolini at Corfu in 1923, Hitler when he tore up the Versailles Treaty, Japan when she seized Mtmchukuo, and the ItalI ian army when it seized Ethiopia, j “Yet if they serve to awaken the United States to its , responsibilities they cannot be written down as wholly disastrous,’’ the paper forecasts. "Britain and the United States are moving in parallel lines in an alltempt to restore order, decency and I safety in the world. The United ’ I States is not pulling British chestnuts ■ I from the fire. In consulting with { Britain we have chestnuts ot our own. las the Panay vividly brings to mind.'’ WAR SCARE IN PEKING NEWSPAPER SALLS SWELL “ENGLAND, JAPAN, AMERICA’ Received Dec. 26, 8 p.m. PEKING. Dec. 25. Newspapers sold like hot cakes as a result of vendors’ cries of •'England. Japan, and America at i war.” | Apparently the scare was based . j on the Doniei News Agency’s re- ] , port of British discussions on I naval reinforcements and America’s reported movement of deI stroyers on the Pacific Coast, I which is considered incomprehensible and sensational, creating an unnecessary and serious warlike atmosphere, MURE POWERFUL NAVY AND AIR FLEET NEED OF UNITED STATES Received Dec. 24, 6 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 21. Representative Taylor, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, i demanded more powerful navy and 1 air fleets. Many western Americans, . he said, believe that the United States should not supinely submit to Japan’s insolent treatment. The United States , would be justified showing the world that “we are going to get ready and we are not hunting for a light but we are not afraid of one."