Tokyo, Nov. 14.
The Japanese reply admitted that Chinese "guerillas continue to be very active along the Yangtze below Kiukiang, making it unsafe for merchant shipping. The note said the. banks of the Yangtze were "infested" with Chinese guerillas.
The translation indicated that the Japanese reply was written in polite terms, but it was believed to have contained additional matter not men~ tioned in the Domei translation. Informed circles believed the note carried certain blunt statements such og citing the fact that the western powers did not protest to China last year when the Chinese military authorities closed the Yangtze with booms at various points between and Hankow—United Journal's Strange Contention A "Veiled Threat Great Britain voluntarily forsook Tokyo, Nov. 15. lor rights of, free navigation on the The Japanese press today upholds Yangtze by' "supporting behind the the Government' Teply to the notes scenes Chinese strategy based upon of Great Britain, "France and' the the creation of booms in the river, United 'States containing. the rejecs the "Yomiuri, a popular daily here, tion of their request for free' naviga-contended editorially. today. tion on the Yangtze River.
The paper bitterly criticized Bri-'The "Miyako. Shimbun," ain, France and the United States eaitoriat on the subject, says that the for their recent action in 'Tokyo re-Government' decision is too reason-questing forthe lifting of restrieable to require any explanation. The tions on Yangtze shipping in the Sino-Japanese conflict has not ended face of their failure to" protest yet and hostilities are stil going on Gen, "Chiang 'Kal-shek "when he Along, the Yangtze, says to the paper, nul booms and laid mines in the which observes. that while the notes river last year in contravention of from' the three powers were sub-treaties between China and various mitted to the Japanese Government Powers providing for the freedom of separately, they must be regarded as navigation on the waterway. veiled threat on the part of Britain, "Common-sense revolts against Ametien and France in view of the hose requests for free navigation on fact that they were submitted on the the Yangtze River," the daily de-same day and were almost identical cared, "pointing out that hostilities in content. are sti "going on long the water-'The "Asaht Shimbun" says that the vay after the fait of "Wuhan into Japanese hands, aimeuity attending Jepan's efforts to safeguard the rights and interests of Refusat Approved mird powers in China is mainly. duc Stressing that the Japanese forces to the failure' of Britain, America bad undergone grave risk and hard-and France fo understand that hostili-this to remove mines. and. booms ties are still-going on In. Cin by the Chinese to" open the "The paper recalls that' Britain, ver for military use, the "Yorturt"
'America and France failed to take proved the Japanese Government's éective action against the closing of reported intention' to decline the the Yangize by the Chiang Kai-shek request of the three Powers. Such Fégime, which has constructed booms action, the paper asserted, was End laid mines since August of last Jutinable ug tong as hostilities were Peis true that they fled protests agaP* "need not mind too much" with the Chiang Kal-shek regime, the [Moh jfunreasonable demands," the "Asani Shimbun" adds, but the. re-journal said. "Significance, however, presentatives in submitting these aeon by the "Yomfuri in. the Protests reassured the Chiang Kal-option of a joint front by Britain, Shek Government that their- protests fiaeee and the United States over were designed to make Japan guaran-question "of "xiver~ navigation.
Wee"See navigation on the Yangtze mak twas hela by the dally to Be {ntleative of the fine' to be followed Rivne partiality. thus manifested by wer in the future
Citas, Powers in their Far East-the three powers in favour of the Chiang Katshek regime was inexcusreat® United States, the "Yomiur!™ according fo the paper—led, on October 6," had made
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.