Extracts.
British Diplomatic Archives First Time Exposure of Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Army. Dec 26 saw two young scholars engaged in the study of the Japanese army's Nanjing Massacre show in an interview to the reporter the British diplomatic archives about the Japanese atrocious massacre in Nanjing. The two young scholars are: Wang Weixing, deputy curator of the History Research Institute of Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences and Yang Xiaming, associate professor of the Party's school of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee. Dec 26 saw two young scholars engaged in the study of the Japanese army's Nanjing Massacre show in an interview to the reporter the British diplomatic archives about the Japanese atrocious massacre in Nanjing. The two young scholars are: Wang Weixing, deputy curator of the History Research Institute of Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences and Yang Xiaming, associate professor of the Party's school of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee. This 19-page material is copied from the original diplomatic archives of the British Archives and sent to them by Mr. Ranamitter of China Research Center in the Oxford University, which covered a time-span of January 15 to Feb.1, 1938. On every page of the secret-coded telegram there is a decoded content of the telegram typewritten with a typewriter in English, which is followed with a going-over handwriting remark of British diplomatic official and a seal chopped specially for registration of the file of the British diplomatic documents. The general idea of one copied telegram dated Jan.15, 1938 sent from China indicates: the mail concerning the atrocities committed by the Japanese army has been sent to the foreign ministry. A person in the National Commission of Christianity said: even the Japanese diplomats who followed the army to break into the city of Nanjing felt greatly shocked to see the dark rule of killing, raping and robbing committed by the (Japanese) army and the atrocity was still being carried on. Due to not being able to take any effect on the Japanese military side the Japanese official in the Embassy hoped in despair that the material could be sent to Tokyo without passing through the Japanese military side. It was suggested that the missionary could manage to expose these facts in Japan. Somebody assured me that the material of the witness could be delivered to me by way of Suzhou and Hangzhou and then further on to Tokyo. A British diplomat remarked at the bottom of it, saying I held a doubt whether the Japanese paper could have the guts to publish these materials as they would besmear the Japanese military, thus incurring the loosing of lives, and the reporter would be killed or dismissed. As introduced from May to June last year, Mr Ranamitter working in the Oriental Department of British University of Warwick came to Jiangsu for collecting historical materials concerning China's anti-Japanese war. In a talk with the History Research Institute of the Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences, he said that he wanted to compile, together with his colleagues, a book of collection about the China' War of Resistance against Japan. It would include the materials about the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese invading army discovered in the diplomatic archive of the British Archives. It was only after the repeated requests of Wang Weixing and Yang Xiaming that he sent them these copied materials from the diplomatic archives. This is a note jotted down by the third party and so it is of objective reliability. As the historical materials came from the British authorities they are of undoubted authoritativeness. In the past we found some materials taken down by injury-doers and sufferers and also some by the third parties as by (German and American) but this is the first time that we found materials supplied by the British authority. It shows that the evidences of the Nanjing Massacre are from quite a multiple sources, all telling in one voice the seriousness of the Nanjing Massacre. As revealed by Wang Weixing, we've found out that many of the materials from the diplomatic archives correspond to the other materials we've previously discovered, thus making the evidences more reliable and irrefutable. The note further indicated that the materials about the atrocities in Nanjing depend respectively on that supplied by American missionaries in Nanjing and by doctors at Wuhu. Wang said the Japanese did quite some atrocities in Wuhu too and he called on the friends working in Anhui historical circles to strengthen their studies on the Japanese atrocious activities in Anhui. Massaki Tanaka, a Japanese rightwing scholar said he once paid a visit to the then Japanese diplomat about it, pointed out further Wang Weixing and the official answered he learnt nothing of the Nanjing Massacre. The material now found in the archives of the British foreign ministry noted down in a clear-cut way the atrocities of the Japanese invading army in Nanjing. This has made the diplomats feel greatly shocked and could do nothing but admit it. And so it is enough to refute the out-and-out lie of the Massaki Tanaka. As learned these pieces from the British diplomatic archives are not complete yet and the further collection needs more funds and the translated version of the material collected from the British diplomatic archives can be published in the magazine of "Archive of Republic of China" early next year. **** Afghanistan Seeks End to US bombing. Afghanistan is demanding the United States halt its bombing, possibly within days, since almost all remaining hideouts of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden have been destroyed, an Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman said on Friday. Afghanistan is demanding the United States halt its bombing, possibly within days, since almost all remaining hideouts of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden have been destroyed, an Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman said on Friday. The request was a sign of potential problems between the new Afghan government and the US military, whose bombing campaign helped to sweep them to power. "We demand America stop its bombing of Afghanistan after this goal is achieved," spokesman Mohammad Habeel told Reuters, adding that the task of rooting out remaining targets linked to bin Laden or the country's ousted Taliban rulers was almost complete. "Their remaining forces are few in number and may be annihilated in a maximum of three days and once this is done there is no need for the continuation of the bombing," he said. "Without the approval of local commanders and the Defence Ministry, America cannot bomb Afghanistan at will," he added. His remarks came a day after a tribal elder said interim leader, Hamid Karzai, would ask the United States to halt aerial attacks on an eastern province where a convoy of guests to his inauguration had been bombed with heavy losses. **** Palestinians Outline New Four-Point Peace Proposal . A senior Palestinian negotiator said on Thursday that talks between Palestinians and Israelis were focusing on a four-point document that could lead to a final settlement of their decades-long conflict. A senior Palestinian negotiator said on Thursday that talks between Palestinians and Israel is were focusing on a four-point document that could lead to a final settlement of their decades-long conflict. Nabil Shaath, also a cabinet minister, was presenting details of recent meetings between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Korei. "The aim is to find a political way out of the current crisis and not focus on security matters as (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon always stressed," Shaath said. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's spokesman Raanan Gissin called them "ideas" and not a peace plan. "It's wrong to talk about a peace plan here. It's the contact with Abu Ala (Korei) to see if there is a possibility to reach a ceasefire," he told Reuters. Israel has said that it would not negotiate under fire. Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo initially dismissed the idea as forcing them to live in cantons. But the Palestinian Authority, which considers the four talking points an agenda for a final deal, said it would pursue the talks. Peres said this week that relations between the two sides were no longer at rock bottom. "I think that chances for peace had reached the lowest point, the zero point, in relations between the Palestinian authorities and Israel," Peres said during a visit to Ukraine. "But I think we have departed from zero point and begun to move," said Peres, a lonesome dove in Sharon's ruling coalition. **** Pakistan Will Never Initiate War: Musharraf. Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf said on Friday Pakistan would never initiate a war. "Pakistan stands for peace, we do not want war. We will never initiate a war unless it is thrust...upon us. We want peace. We do not want war." Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf said on Friday Pakistan would never initiate a war. "Pakistan stands for peace, we do not want war. We will never initiate a war unless it is thrust...upon us. We want peace. We do not want war. We understand all the hazards that will follow," he stated this while speaking at a Christmas dinner, he hosted in the honour of the Christian community, at the presidential palace, here. But he said the leader of his nuclear-powered rival needed to show similar openness to cool the heated exchanges, the tit-for-tat diplomatic sanctions and the shadow of another war looming over the border. Musharraf said it was a pleasure for him to host a Christmas dinner for all the Christian community living in Islamabad and outside. Later, talking to reporters, he reiterated Pakistan wanted peace in the region and said: "We want peace on the border and we are in favour of de-escalating on the borders and we only hope that war is not thrust on us." To a question, he said whatever Pakistan was doing on the Afghan border continued to be done and there was no thinning out on the physical presence of border that it had sealed. "Pakistan will not shift troops from the Afghan border to reinforce its frontier with India <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/india.html> despite rising tensions there," Musharraf added. The dinner was largely attend among others by the ambassadors and heads of the foreign missions in Islamabad, besides distinguished guests from the minority communities, federal ministers and senior military and civil officers. **** Pakistan Continues to Exercise Utmost Restraint: Spokesman. Pakistan continues to exercise utmost restraint while it has taken minimum defensive measures for security of the country, in face of Indian mass military deployment in the Pak-Indian borders. Pakistan continues to exercise utmost restraint while it has taken minimum defensive measures for security of the country, in face of Indian mass military deployment in the Pak-Indian borders. This was stated by Major General Rashid Qureshi, Director General of Inner Service Public Relations, on Friday at a press briefing in the Foreign Office. Qureshi said that by making massive deployment and installation of arsenals of all types on the border, India seems to desire attaining capability of an offensive action. Qureshi said, "Any deployment in excess of what is required on the border and the Line of Control, will be seen as a threat by the other country. So, one sees a progressive increase in the level of forces and the types of forces, with the Indian defense ministry saying that they have also deployed surface-to-surface missiles, which is a fact, we know about it. So, therefore, each step that they take and they have been taking is an increasing threat to Pakistan," Qureshi added. Qureshi said Pakistan has only deployed such forces that ensures Pakistan's defense and that Pakistan continues to exercise maximum restraint. "However, the Pakistan government will ensure that Pakistan retains the capability of a reciprocal action, depending on what the Indian armed forces and the Indian government does," he added. **** German Troops Ready for Afghan Mission. The German troops are ready for a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and the first contingent will march to Afghanistan soon, said the Defense Ministry on Friday. The German troops are ready for a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and the first contingent will march to Afghanistan soon, said the Defense Ministry on Friday. An exploration group comprising five people will set for Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday to do some investigations for the main German troops who will be stationed in Kabul next January, defense ministry spokesman Joachim Cholin told reporters in Berlin. A contingent of 250 paratroopers will head for Kabul early next month and the main troops will be there in late January, the spokesman said. The German parliament endorsed last week with an overwhelming majority a government decision to send up to 1,200 soldiers to Kabul as part of a multinational peacekeeping force to protect the interim Afghan government there. The exploration group will try to find out whether the international airport in Kabul, which was destroyed by U.S. military strikes, could be repaired soon and put into use again, Cholin said. They will also investigate how the main troops would be supplied and accommodated and whether the troops must transport lodging materials to Kabul and build billets there, he added. The mission in Afghanistan will not be carried out at the costs of the current operation of the German armed forces in Balkan, Cholin stressed, saying the defense ministry didn't intend to " withdraw forces or military materials from the ongoing deployments. " **** Argentines Protest Banking Freeze. Thousands of cash-hungry Argentines took to the streets banging pots and pans in an outpouring of discontent early Saturday, demonstrating against a month-old banking freeze limiting cash withdrawals. Thousands of cash-hungry Argentines took to the streets banging pots and pans in an outpouring of discontent early Saturday, demonstrating against a month-old banking freeze limiting cash withdrawals. The spontaneous outburst marked the second such display of anger by Argentina's struggling middle class since a similar protest a week ago helped topple the presidency of Fernando De la Rua. The protest began peacefully on Friday night only hours after Argentines flooded banks, forming long lines and shouting for their money after the government eased a five-day banking holiday that had shut off most routine financial transactions. As the raucous pan-beating protest spread from barrio to barrio, thousands of people entered the Plaza de Mayo square fronting the Government Palace, scene of deadly riots last week. Hundreds more gathered outside Congress, but no violence was reported. ``Give us back our money!'' people chanted, while others voiced complaints about corruption in government. ``Out with the thieves!'' No riot police were visible outside either landmark government building, and the protest went on peacefully for hours. Many beat pans on balconies and entered the streets with children in tow. Argentina's financial straits have already given rise to several different currencies, including government bonds issued by many of the country's provinces, now especially hard up for cash. In some parts of Argentina's interior, at least five different currencies circulate. Long lines formed at many banks earlier Friday as Argentines sought to withdraw the equivalent of $250 a week allowed under a current partial banking freeze. And thousands more flooded government offices around the capital in search of jobs promised as part of a work program unveiled earlier this week by Rodriguez Saa. Nearly one out of five Argentines is out of work, and Rodriguez Saa has said he wants to re-ignite the economy by creating more than 1 million jobs paying around $200 a month. Meanwhile, the Buenos Aires stock market reopened Friday for the first time since deadly rioting and looting forced Fernando De la Rua from office last week. The Merval Index of leading shares was off 7.8 percent at closing. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
