THE PANAY BOMBING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 308, 29 December 1937, Page 7

THE PANAY BOMBING

ITS WORLD SIGNIFICANCE BRITISH PRESS OPINION APOLOGIES WILL NOT SUFFICE IN THE FUTURE. [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Dec. 28, 6.36 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 28. The Times, in a leader, says: “The Japanese Government has rounded off a fortnight of strenuous apologies bypresenting the American Government with a Note on the Panay sinking, which repeats the earlier expressions of regret, and then goes on to say, at some length, that it was all a mistake. It cannot be said that the Japanese explanations, though always plausible and sometimes obviously true, are convincing. The tone of the American acceptance was chilly enough to despel whatever Japanese hopes that may be that any future incident will only have to be called an accident to be liquidated after this. The militarists, however lightly they may regard the pledged word of the Government they serve, hardly dare tread on American toes. A significant point of the Emperor’s declaration to the Diet —’Our armies are enhancing their prestige at home and abroad’ —is not that he says what is patently untrue about foreign opinion, but that he says what is partly untrue about home opinion. It would be ridiculous to suppose that with the launching of a ruthless war aggression all the ideals, all the enlightenment, all the wisdom suddenly ceased to exist in Japan.’’

The Manchester Guardian, in a I leader, says: “The sinking of the Panay may have been settled as a diplomatic incident, but it may also be remembered in history as a turning point in the development of American foreign policy. President Roosevelt’s speech at Chicago met with little response. Nothing had then occurred to shock the American, people to his realisation of the danger, but the message in that speech repeated to-day would I have a very different response and : possibly be different again in a few 1 weeks, when, in every town and village lof the Middle West a film depicting ■ the bombing of the Panay will have | been shown. President Roscvclt will ! know how- to take advantage of this I lively emotion, but it is unlikely that |he will concern himself only with 1 American interests.”

SENSATIONAL RUMOURS ALIEN FLOTILLA IN U.S.A. WATERS THE NAVY IS SCEPTICAL Received Dec. 28, 11.48 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 28. Sensational rumours, circulated in naval circles, of an alien flotilla of submarines which has been operating off the southern Californian coast are reported in the Daily News, which adds: “The Navy sent out seaplanes to scout for themt” However, the navy discredits the reports, which are described as entirely unfounded.

FILMS LEAVE HONOLULU EXPECTED IN NEW YORK TO-DAY. IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION PLANNED. Received Dec. 28, 8 p.m. HONOLULU, Dec. 27. The clipper ships, carrying films of the Panay bombing, hopped off for San Francisco. The films are expected in New York on Wednesday and will be distributed to theatres immediately. A message from Washington says that the United States has decided to maintain a hands-off policy in reference to the showing of the Panay films, refraining from censorship, even by suggestion.

NO U.S.A.-JAPANESE UNDERSTANDING MR. CORDELL HELL’S DENTAL. Received Dec. 28, 8.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 27. Mr. Cordell Hull denied a report of a secret American-Japanese agreement behind the settlement of the Panay incident. He said he was not ready to comment on the regulations imposed by the Japanese military authorities on foreigners in China.