Wednesday, 4 December 1929

Washington:  

Secretary of State Henry Stimson denounces Russia’s statement from yesterday that the United States’ urging Russia to settle the Manchuria dispute was “unfriendly.”  Stimson says rather the U.S. action was prompted by the seriousness with which the United States views the Kellogg-Briand Pact.  Stimson reiterates a belief that public opinion can be used as a tool for enforcing peace, and for encouraging compliance with the Kellogg-Briand Pact by the nations who signed it. 

Moscow:  

Yet Russia keeps up the war of words.  Maxim Litninoff, Acting Commissar of Foreign Affairs, advises “protectors of the Kellogg pact” to keep their attentions focused on their own parts of the world.  “The Soviet Union, unlike other countries, rejected extraterritorial rights and privileges in China, and it would seem strange why, under this circumstance, the Nanking and Mukden governments took the path of violence with provocations toward soviet Russia.  This is explained by the simple fact that the start and further encouragement of actions of the Nanking government originated from the imperialistic camp.” 

Elsewhere: 

Shanghai:  Meanwhile the national government of China also issues a reply to the communiqué it, like Russia, received from the United States and other world powers, urging it to settle the Manchuria conflict peacefully.  The reply promises that, “apart from measures of self-protection and defense of territorial sovereignty against external invasions, China would observe her obligations under the pact.”

China:  The troop rebellions in the civil war grow more serious.  Reports say the number of mutinous troops in Pukow is 15,000, and they’ve headed north after looting the city.  Meanwhile, communist rebels have reportedly killed 100 people and looted the city of Kanchow (Ganzhou), in southern China.

Berlin:  The fallout from Alfred Hugenberg’s Liberty Law initiative continues: 8 more German Nationalist People’s Party delegates in the Reichstag resign, including the party chairman, joining the six who resigned yesterday in protest of Hugenberg’s leadership.  Ten more are expected to follow soon.