SHANGHAI AND MANCHURIA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] have just received the statement enclosed herewith signed by the leading members of the Shanghai Chinese community.—I am, Sir, &c., C. KUANGRON YOUNG,
Chinese Consul-General.
6 Strathmore Gardens, Kensington, W. 8.
Utterly disregarding the League of Nations' Covenant, the Kellogg Pact and the Nine Power Treaty, Japan has occupied Manchuria and waged undeclared war on China. She has now perpetrated the Shanghai outrage as the culmination of her unabated acts of aggression and defiance of the League of Nations' resolutions. On the afternoon of January 28th the demands of the Japanese Consul-General in Shanghai were accepted by the Mayor of Greater Shanghai and the said acceptance was declared satisfactory by the said Consul-General. At 11.25 the same evening the local Japanese Naval Commander suddenly notified the Chinese authori- ties to withdraw their forces from Chapel, and thirty-five minutes later proceeded to occupy the Chinese controlled territory. Acting in self-defence the Chinese forces resisted the advance of the Japanese marines and other armed contingents. Thus frustrated, the Japanese Naval forces have been landing reinforcements in the International Settlement and employing the Settlement as a base of belligerent operations against the Chinese troops. Aerial attacks are being maintained daily, and Japanese civilians have been permitted to inflict inhuman treatment on Chinese men, women and children.
It is self-evident that in seeking to aggravate the situation Japan is motivated on one hand by a passion to strike terror into Chinese hearts in Shanghai as in Manchuria and elsewhere, and to coerce China into submission; and on the other hand, by the desire to secure for herself a predominant position in North and Central China to the prejudice of other Powers.
The present Shanghai outrage had its origin in the Japanese occupation of Manchuria. Any attempt to liquidate the Shanghai outrage as a local isolated incident without attempting a settlement of the whole situation arising out of the Japanese occupation of Manchuria will inevitably defeat its purpose and encourage Japan to perpetrate similar outrages in other parts of China. It may be recalled that Japan invaded Manchuria when the League of Nations Assembly was in session ; she extended such occupation to the threshold of Tsitaihar, when the League Council adopted the second resolution ; and she planned the capture of Chinchow—the last vestige of China's administrative authority in Manchuria—when the League Council adopted its third resolution on the subject. Added to the present Shanghai outrage these facts reveal Japan's cynical disregard of world opinion and contempt of the League of Nations.
The Chinese Government and people have always reposed 00111- ffdence in the League Covenant, the Kellogg Pact and the Nine Power Treaty to adjust disputes between nations. In face of Japan's unabated aggressions the Chinese people are entitled to ask if China's co-signatories in these international engagements intend to condone Japan's repudiation of her plighted word or to undermine the sanctity of international treaties Deeply appreciative of your Government's solicitude and efforts in the Chinese people's welfare, we earnestly appeal to your and. meat to stand firm on the five proposals designed by your Government in conjunction with three other friendly Governments for the solution of the crisis between China and Japan. Japan's continued occupation of Manchuria will always be a threat to world peace, if not also. to the security of other. .Powers, whose efforts at meditation are magnified into interference to Japtth's detriment. We appeal to your Government to counsel Jaban to honour her plighted word and to collaborate with your Government and other co-signatories in the establishment of durable peace in the Far East, or if she cannot be persuaded to liken to reason, courageously to join the other friendly Governments and other . co-signatories in the application of economic sanctions or other speedy and more effective measure; to preserve world peace. Failure now to do the right thing and boldly to insist upon justice and honour in defence of the sanctity of treaties will expose the League Covenant, the Kellogg Pact and the Nine Power Treaty to public ridicule and subject the present situation to the imminent danger of drifting into the reality of a world catastrophe.
. (signed) WONG SHAO Les, Chairman Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce ; LI Mine, Chairman Shanghai Henkel; Association,. ZIN ZUNG CHING, Chairman Shanghai Native Bankers Guild ; YUNG CHUN CHING, Chairman Chinese Cotton Millowners Association ; C. H. Li, Chairman Shanghai Universities Union ; C. S. Lc, Chairman Shanghai Labour Union; Luso KONG Hon, Chairman Associated Chambers of Commerce ; K. P. CHEN, Chairman China Committee International Chamber of Commerce ; Yv YA CHING, Chairman. Shipowners Association - H. Y. Mon, Chairman Shanghai Exchanges Association.
Previous page
