Tuesday, 3 December 1929

Berlin:  

The political fallout begins for nationalist political leader Alfred Hugenberg over his failed Liberty Law* initiative.  Six Reichstag delegates from his German National People’s Party resign from the party in protest over Hugenberg’s leadership, which has been driving the party increasingly nationalist.  This follows the split already evident last week, when some of his own party’s members voted against his proposed Liberty Law.  But Hugenberg is also being excoriated from the even more radically nationalist Adolf Hitler, leader of the national socialists.  

Russia: 

Nikolsk-Ussurlisky: Russian and Manchurian officials sign an agreement formally ending fighting in the Russian invasion of Manchuria.  According to dispatches, joint control of the Chinese Eastern Railway will be reinstated.  It’s still not clear what role the national government of China has in this agreement, if any, nor what recognition it will give the agreement, if any . . . nor that it even matters, given the central government’s tenuous-at-best rule in Manchuria. 

Moscow:  Meanwhile, the soviet government informs the French government (which is acting as the mediator between the United States and Soviet Union, since the two countries have no diplomatic relations) that it considers “unfriendly” the recent U.S. advice that Russia keep in mind the Kellogg-Briand Pact which it signed, and settle the Manchuria dispute peacefully.

 

“The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, from the first day of its existence, has pursued a policy of peace, and unlike other powers has never resorted to military action except as a necessary step for defense, due to direct attack on the union or armed intervention in its internal affairs.  The Soviet Union has consistently pursued this policy and intends to pursue it independently of the Paris pact for abolition of war.”  The response goes on to outline Russia’s case that it was China’s policy over the Chinese Eastern Railway that started the conflict.    

“The climax of this policy was the seizure of the Chinese Eastern Railway without any warning or preliminary presentation of any claims, in violation of existing agreements regarding the joint administration of the railway.  The soviet government believes that if action such as that of the Nanking government were taken toward the United States, Great Britain or France, it would be considered by their governments sufficient cause for putting into force reservations they made when signing the pact.  [. . .]  The Nanking government not only resorted to illegal seizure of the Chinese Eastern Railway, but mobilized along the soviet Manchurian railway an army, various sections of which, together with counter revolutionary Russian bands included therein, made systematic attacks on the U.S.S.R., crossing the frontier and firing on units of the Red Army and frontier villages, robbing and violating a peaceful population, causing thereby losses of lives and property.  Despite frequent warnings through the German government, these attacks did not cease but rather increased and compelled the soviet far-eastern army, in the interests of defense, protection of the frontier and the peaceful population, to take counter measures.  Thus the actions of the Red Army had due considerations of self-defense and were in no wise violations of any obligations of the Paris pact.

“That cannot be said of armed forces in Chinese territory and Chinese ports of those powers who have applied Tuesday to the Soviet Union with identical declarations.  The soviet government states that the government of the United States has addressed its declaration at a moment when the soviet and Mukden governments already had agreed to several conditions and were proceeding with direct negotiations which would make possible prompt settlement of the conflict between the Soviet Union and China.  In view of this fact, the above declaration cannot but be considered unjustifiable pressure on the negotiations, and cannot therefore be taken as a friendly act.  In conclusion, the soviet government cannot forbear expressing amazement that the government of the United States, which by its own will has no official relations with the soviet, deems it possible to apply to it with advice and counsel.” 

China:  

New fighting erupts in the civil war.  Communist rebels are reportedly advancing on Canton, on the southern coast, and two divisions of nationalist government troops mutiny at Pukow, across the river from the capital of Nanking, after refusing orders to deploy to Canton.