PEKING DEMONSTRATION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18410, 17 June 1925, Page 9

PEKING DEMONSTRATION.

AGAINST BRITAIN. MERCHANTS JOIN. SEVERANCE OF RELATIONS DE3IANDED. (BT CABLE—TRESS ASSOCIATIOX—COPnUGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AXD N.2. CABLE ASSOCIATIOX.) PEKING, June 15. The largest demonstration in Peking since the crisis was made to-day. Students, merchants, shopkeepers, and workmen paraded the streets, and demanded that tho Government sover relations with Great Britain, and instruct General Hsiao Yao-nan, Governor of Hupeh, to send troops to tako back tho Hankow concession from the British. It is roportod that Shen Jui-lin (Chinese Foreign Minister) xoturnod to his duties to-day. Cabinet and local authorities"held a long meeting to-day to discuss measures for tho protection of foreigners in China outside the Settlements. The activities of tho strikers aro unabated. Strikers on Juno 13th intimidated workers at Jarkino and Matheson's Kungyik cotton mill, and the employees walked out.

FIRING UNAVOIDABLE. MOB'S MURDEROUS INTENT. STATEMENT IN COMMONS. (beoteh's telugsams.) (Keceivod Juno 16th, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 15. ■ In the House of Commons, in reply to a suggostion that the trouble at Shanghai was due to low wages and the employment of thildron, a Foreign Office statement emphasised that the Government had done all it could to improve conditions of labour within the international settlement, but had no control outside. The mob at Shanghai was very largo and of murderous intent. Had thoy succeeded in seizing the arms at the police station there undoubtedly would have been moro bloodshed.

The British policy in connexion with China was fcdopted in concert with the other Powers interested, and no points of difference had arisen. The casualties at Shanghai numbered 21 Chinose killod and Co wounded. One American had been wounded. Tho British Consul at Hankow had reported that tho firing there was inevitable. Had tho Chineso authorities co-operated with tho defence forco the deplorable loss of lifo'would have been avoidod. Tho disturbances at Shanghai and Hankow wcro symptoms of doop, widespread unrest which was exploited by interested parties to stir up feoling against the Powers with tho largest interests in China, who, therefore, were deeply concerned to co-operato with China -to secure progress and reform. The surest remedy for anti-foreign fooling in China would lie in an attempt by the Treaty Powers to carry out tho decisions of the Washington Conference in regard to co-operation 'between the Powers and China in measures beneficial to China. j The Government was considering the best means of overcoming tho difllcu ties arising largely from the absence of I an effective- Government in China. The forthcoming conference on internal i traffic in China should afford an oppor- j tunity of removing such obstacles and ] dissipating tho present atmosphere of distrust and inaugurating an era of fruitful co-operation between China and the Powers.

Replying to Mr Ramsay Mac Donald, Mr Baldwin gave an assurance that the Government was co-opprating with the Powers in taking every step possible to prevent disturbances becoming a really big international trouble in the Far East.'Thero was every reason to beliovo that the Powers and the Chinese Government's Commission of Enquiry at Shanghai would co-opcratc most heartily.

BRITISH NOTE. CHINA WARNED AGAINST AGITATION. (AUSTBALIAX AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) PEKING, June 15. Tho British Note, replying to tho Chinese Note regarding the Hankow riots, points out inaccuracies in the Chinese statement, and states the facts in connexion with the riots from which it would bo seen that the volunteers showed great restraint. They refrained from firing even when the mob charged almost on to the bayonets. The reply states that the foreigners were defending their lives against a murderous mob, and doc's not admit the responsibility of the British authorities, who were unable to obtain prompt protection from tho Chineso authorities, and were obliged to act for themsslves. It reminds the Government of the repeated warnings of the responsibility China incurs in allowing the present anti-British agitation to proceed unchecked, and refers to tho dissemination of pamphlets giving most mendacious accounts of the happenings, and concludes by stating that these calumnies are v«ry dangerous for peoples whose disposition is uncertain. One explosion may be fc/iowed by others, with deplorable results.

(Continued at foot of n«rt column.)