JAPAN’S ULTIMATUM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 9

JAPAN’S ULTIMATUM

NO REPLY GIVEN. REFUSAL ANTICIPATED. HOPE OF PEACE VANISHING. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) TIENTSIN, July 27. The Japanese ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of the Thirty-seventh Division from Pekin has expired. As telegraph and telephone communication has been severed there is no news of Pekin’s reply, but it is believed to he a refusal.

The Japanese Legation at Pekin has ordered all nationals into the refuge of tlie Embassy quarter. Japanese soldiers are reported to have arrived at Chongping, an important railway junction north of Pekin, and thus control all the railways leading to the city. The Japanese Government in a statement declares it has no territorial designs on North China and will not interfere with foreign interests. After the three lorries of Japanese were blown lip inside Pekin seven others got through and took refuge in a Buddhist temple, where they -were surrounded by Chinese troops, to whom they surrendered. The Government at Nanking is reported to have telegraphed to Mr Sung (Governor of Hopei) that it rejects Lieutenant-General Katsuki’s ultimatum, and to prepare to fight, as all hopes of peace have vanished. A message from Tientsin says a state of emergency has been declared there following a bomb explosion in the Japanese concession.

The Prime Minister of Japan (Mr K. Hirota) at an extraordinary session of the Diet this morning, declared that Japan’s policy in East Asia was directed toward stopping a Communist invasion, a Tokio cablegram reports. He stressed Japan’s close relations with Germany, and warned China that unless she cooperated with Japan there might be an untoward outbreak at any moment. China held the key to the settlement of the present incident. PUNITIVE MEASURES. 800 CHINESE KILLED. deceived Julv 28, 9.55 a.m. TOKIO, July 27. The War Minister to-day made astatement that the garrisons in North China had decided upon punitive measures as a self-defence against the Chinese troops and the War Office had decided to take corresponding measures. Reports from Tientsin state that Japanese troops assisted by military ’planes almost wiped out a force of 800 Chinese at Tungchow., who resisted an attempt to disarm them. ORDERS TO BRITONS. SPEND NIGHT IN LEGATIONS. Received July 28, 10 a.m. PEKIN, July 27. The British authorities have advised their nationals to spend the night in the Legation quarter. A Teintsin message states that the ' Japanese spokesman explained - that it was unlikely that Japan would take action as a result of the ultimatum before tomorrow. .

ANOTHER ATTACK

LEGATION GUARDS READY.

Received July 28, 11.15 a.m. SHANGHAI, July 27,

Contemporaneously with the Tung ■L-how engagement within 15 miles of the city ofPekin, the Diplomatic Corps notified the Chinese and Japanese authorities that the protocol formulated after the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, which culminated in the siege of the Pekin Legations, forbade fighting within 20 miles of the capital. The only visible result of this was a further Japanese attack on Pekin. The guards at the British and other Legations are standing by with sandbags filled ready to be rushed to the gates of the Legation quarter.

PEACE ADVISED.

BRITISH ATTITUDE,

(British Official Wireless.) Received July 28, 11.5 a.m. RUGBY, July 27. In the House of Commons Mr R. A. Eden stated that the Government was continuing to urge both the Japanese and the Chinese Governments to seek a peaceful settlement. He understood that similar action had been taken by the United States and French Governments. Mr Eden referred to the report or the possibility of action by Japanese troops at Pekin in the city as well as outside, and told the House he had instructed the British Charge d Affaires at Tokio to express the earnest hope that such action would be avoided. He added that local schemes existed for the protection of British subjects.