Evening star., 1932-02-01
JAPAN ASKS 3 POWERS TO AID
IN ENDING CHINESE OPERATIONS
Foreign Minister Addresses
Plea to France, U. S.
and Britain.
Tells Ambassadors Lives Are
Threatened by Chiang's
Troops.
BY JAMES p. HOWE,


TOXIC, February Foreign Minis
ter Kenkichi Yoshizawa yesterday asked
the American, British and French Am
baSSadOrS to solicit the support Of their
governments for measures to persuade
the Chinese to abandon War-like oper-
ationS at Shanghai.
The Foreign Minister called In the
Ambassadors after receiving from the
military intelligence service alarming
reports that Marshal Chang Kai-Shek,
former President Of China, was effect
ing heavy concentration Of his troops
in the Shanghai area.
After his conferences with the ENJOYS
M. YOShizawa told foreign newspaper
correspondents that unless the Shanghai
situation was relieved quickly the
japanese army probably will be called" &"
BIuejackets in Danger.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that
Japanese bluejackets now in Shanghai
are IN danger Of annihilation, as they
are. facing 10000 crack Chinese troops,
and reports have been received that
Marshal Chang is rushing four squad
rOnS Of airplanes into the area for a
major offensive
The American, British and French
Ambassadors were summoned, 1t was ex-
planned, for the purpose Of diSSipating
misapprehenSionS and misunderStand-
ings abroad concerning Japan's position
in Shanghai.
NJ YoshizaWa said the government
considered it apparent such misUnder-
standings existed because separate rep
reservations have been made to Toxic
by Washington, London and Paris
These representations, he added, were
made verbally and therefore we're not
identic. He did not consider them TO
be protests.
The foreign minister conferred for an
hour and half with Sir Francis Lind
ley, British Ambassador, for about the
same length of time with w. Cameron
Forbes, the American Ambassador, and
for slightly more than an hour with
Count de Marie, the Paris representa-
tive.
To Transmit Requests.
Receiving foreign correspondents i'm
mediately thereafter, NJ. YoshiZawa
said the Ambassadors had agreed to
transmit his request that the three
governments attempt to persuade China
against billigerent operations.
The foreign minister appeared tired.
From hastily scribbled notes and from
a war Office intelligence report, he de-
livered his chronological narration of
the Shanghai incident in English.
Il received this afternoon the British,
American and French Ambassadors. who
are interested in the defense Of the
International Settlement, and I am GO
ing to explain what I told them, but
not what they said to me, as I am un-
able to do that without their permis-
sion" he began.
with the view Of dissipating some
misunderstanding which seems to exist
in various quarters I decided to explain
the situation to them fully.
In the first place our consular and
naval representatives have not ignored
the spirit of collaboration. Consul
General Mural presented Japan's de-
mands to Mayor WI Teh-Cheng jan
uary 81. the demands including an item
movement.
Newspaper Closed.
"On its own initiative January 25
the (ShanghaD municipal council de-
cided to close the Chinese newspaper
Ming Kwo Jih Pao and also to close
the headquarters of the anti-Japanese
society.
THE municipal authorities closed the
newspaper January 26 and M. Mural
was given to understand the municipal
ity would assist him when the Japa-
nese should take steps for closing the
anti-Japanese Society, the Japanese
having informed the municipality of
the steps contemplated for dissolving
the society.
THE details for closing the anti
Japanese Society were discussed by
japanese naval officers and the NUM-
cipal police M Mural himself, jan
uary 27, explained to the British,
American and French consuls general
our position in the steps contemplated.
The same day the commander of
the foreign armed forces held a con-
ference at which a plan for joint de-
fense Of the settlement was adopted.
WSecondlu I esnnhasize that the Sino-