20 JULY 1929, Page 2

The Nanking Government say that the new Chargé d'Affaires who

is going shortly to Moscow will act as a plenipotentiary in discussing the whole subject. They also demand the release of Chinese who are imprisoned in Russia, and the protection generally of Chinese who are living in Russia, though they remark that these requests are not to be regarded as counter-demands. Clearly this reply is not a satisfaction of the Soviet Note or ultimatum, but for reasons which we have given in our leading article it is not believed that either side contem- plates war. The danger is, as always in such cir- cumstances, that some frontier incident may aggravate the whole situation and put it beyond control. Meanwhile it is reported that the Soviet is breaking off relations with China.

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