Evening star., 1932-02-16
USE Of SETTLEMENT
DEFENDED BY TOXIC
Reply to Protests Will Say
British and U. S. Troops
Also Landed There.

Copyright, 1892, by the Associated Fress,
TOXIC, February l6.-Japanese mil
itary and political leaders took little
pains today to hide growing concern
over the increasing popularity IN
China of the 18th Chinese Route Army
that is defending Shanghai
Military authorities watched anxious
ly the attitude of Gen. Chang Kai-
Shek. Chinese military leader and for
mer President. They expressed a con-
viction that he would not enter the
conflict personally, although they
pointed out that he was supporting the
10Th Army and might feel compelled
to enter the conflict himself on account
of the growing enthusiasm throughout
the country over that army's stubborn
resistance
At the same time the foreign office
sent instructions to Consul General
Kuramatsu Mural at Shanghai asking
him to say. in reply to the British and
American protests against Japan's land
irg troops in the International Settle
ment, that Great Britain and the
United States also landed troops there
so there seemed no reason why Japan
should not do likewise.
Defense Rights Asserted.
Japan also has a right to partake In
International defense measures in the
settlement. the consul general was in
structed to point out to the representa-
tives of the two powers. Only a small
portion of Japan's $4,000 troops were
landed in the settlement, the foreign
office statement said, and these did not
remain there, but moved soon to posi-
tions outside the borders, fanking the
Chinese in Chapel.
The question of the possible necessity
Of sending more troops to meet the Chi
nese increases also agitated.military and
government leaders. II more troops
were to be sent. 1t was pointed out. 1t
would be necessary 10 go to the En-
peror and the cabinet again to secure
an authorization. The question is still
in the discussion stage" officials said,
and the cabinet has not yet consid-
cred It,
Concerned Over Reinforcements.
Minister Of War Gen. Araki and other
military leaders publicly expressed con-
Germ lest other Chinese forces Join the
18th Army and necessitate further jap
aneSe reinforcements. Gen. Araki said
the next 70 hours would determine
whether it would be necessary to REIN
force Gen. Uyeda. japanese commander
at Shanghai. and this was taken to
mean that It would be necessry to watch
Gen. Chang Kai-Shek's attitude that
long.
If Gen. Chiang's National Guard divi-
sions. known es 'Chiang's Own" join
the 18th Army. 1t was pointed out. 1t
would bring up the question of whether
the japanese and Chinese armies would
then not be engaged on a national scale
at Shanghai instead Of locally, as Japan
maintains they now are.
The consensus of japanese opinion
was that destruction of the 18th Army
was absolutely essential. because, Off
cials said. the Chinese public has come
to believe that that army. composed
almost entirely Of Cantonese. who are
pronouncedly anti-Japanese, has here
tofore been victorious over the Japanese,
and consequently the soldiers have be-
come national Chinese heroes.
Soviet Measures Doubted.
Concern wes expressed in official
quarters at a report reaching the for
eign Office from an undiscloSed Euro
pean capital that Soviet Russia was
contemplating measures to protect 30
Wet lives and property in Manchurla.
Japanese authorities. however. pro-
fessed to disbelieve the report and to
scout the possibility of a Russo -Japa-
nese clash in North Manchuria.
An official spokesman said Soviet
Russia had no reason to contemplate
protective measures. as there have been
no reports that any Soviet citizens had
been harmed in recent developments at
Harbin, which is in the Russian sphere
of influence, or elsewhere.
Nevertheless, the Japanese govern.
ment evinced keen interest in frequent
reports that Soviet forces had been
shifted in Eastern Siberia and that
considerable quantities of army sup
plies had been shipped eastward from
Moscow.