These accusations were countered a communique issued by the Japanese Permanent Bureau this morning.
The communique "Hankow's calumny Japanese is an attempt to conceal unjustifiable acts on the part of the [Chinese troops."
The note quotes Chinese military documents, allegedly captured near, Taiyuan, in which General Yeh Hsi-shan is said to advocate the "abundant use of gas, with a view to the anni-pilation of the enemy."
The Chinese are alleged to have used poison gas in mid-July in the Hsiahsien sector, in Shansi, and on August 28 at Chungyan—Reuter, Cotton Crops to Be Improved Shanghai, Sept. 7, Measures for the improvement of! colton crops in Shensi have been drawn up by the Ministry of! Economics, while experts are to be stationed permanently in the areas affected by locusts with a view to ridding the entire area of the pest.
Shensi is one of the best cotton-producing provinees in China, having an area of 5,096,834 mow' under' cotton cultivation, and producing an annual aggregate' of 1,683,463 shih tan, or new piculs.
However, the locusts have reduced the output by as much as 30 per cent. Taking 10 per cent. as the basis for calculation of the damage, the loss would be 160,000 new: piculs, at $35 per picul, or a total of nearly $5,600,000 each year.
This year's Shensi cotton crops. will be less than that of last year, because the Chinese Government is restricting the areas under cotton, cultivation in favour of planting! more rice and other cereals, the report concludes, to League investigation. This article further provides that should one of the belligerents refuse to take tem-Porary member responsibilities in such a case, Article XVI on the application of' sanctions should be put into effect. China's appeal will be discussed by the Council within ten days, it is now learnt, In the meantime, the Chinese delegates here have adopted a clear attitude as regards Covenant reforms. strongly opposing suggestions from the Oslo Convention powers that sanctions should be decreed non-compulsory. They have also insisted upon the necessity of financial assistance being rendered to victims of aggression.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.