SHOP SMASHING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18413, 20 June 1925, Page 15

SHOP SMASHING.

LAWLESSNESS IN SHANGHAI. i BRITISHERS STONED. CONSUL DRIVEN TO TEMPLE. (by cable—rnzss association - —corniiGHT.) IRSCTEn's TELEORAMSO PEKING, Juno IS. A wireless message from Shanghai says that the agitation has again flared up. and the situation is critical. Tho British Consul ha« been foroed to leave the consulate, and has takeu up his residence in Lungmen Temple. British citizens have been stoned and assaulted in tho streets. Tho warship Teal is protecting the Asiatio Petroleum Company's installation. Tho shipping strike is becoming worse. Tho Pootung whntf coolies have struck, also 90 per cent, of the Shanghai Tug and Lighter Company's lightermen. Ninety cx-municipal police led a hugo procession, which smashed the windows of shops containing British and Japanese goods, until Marshal Chang Sue-HHang's troops interrupted and subdued the crowd. Subsequently tho crowd sent a delegation to ask Chang Sue-Hliang to throw in his lot with the strikers. He counselled prudence and patience. Late last night strikers eet fire to the Japanese Kungaifh cottort-mill, but police extinguished it, little damage being done.

LEADERS LOOK ON.

AGITATORS WORK UNCHECKED.

(MCTIft'S TELEGRAMS.) PEKING, Juno 18. Despite official statements that every effort would bo made to prevent antiforeign riots, nothing lias been done to hinder tho dangerous inflammatory agitation. Thousands of incendiary and provocative posters have, been posted throughout Peking depicting British police shooting and bayoneting defenceless students, women, and children lying on. the ground. The vernacular pajiers are mostly refusing to print reliable telegrams, and are- inserting absurdly garbled versions of events at Shanghai.

Two brigades of War Minister Wu Kwang-hain's Mukden troops havo arrived in the vicinity of Peking. It is explained that they will act as a special guard for the Chief Executive. Marshal Chang Tso-lin hns also sent a battalion for special police duty at Peking.

CONFERENCE FAILS.

CHINESE PRESS DEMANDS.

(beutkr's telegrams.) PEKING, Jiyne 18. After several meetings of representatives of the Chinese Government and interested Powers, at Shanghai to discuss the situation and endeavour to find a solution of the difficulties, negotiations woro broken off owing to the divergence of views" which developed. Tho Chinese delegation presented a series of demands which the Foreign representatives insisted they were not authorised to ,deal with. The Chinese wer© insistent in pressing these matter's and consequently a deadlock occurred.

The Foreign delegates returned to Peking.

HONG-KONG SYMPATHISERS.

(reuteb's teleoiuhs.)

PEKING, June 18

Thore is no news from Amoy and Foochow, and the position at KiuKiang is improving. Hankow is quiet.

At Hong Kong some older students of Queen's "College struck in sympathy with tho Shanghai movement. Parents of others escorted them to college as a precaution against possible intimidation.

The feeling among leading local Chinese interests is strongly against Hong Kong being involved in the general strike troubles.

SEAMEN JOINING.

(HZUTBr'S TELSOBAMS.)

(Received June 20th,. 12/13 a.m.) HONG KONG, Tune 19. Thero are indications of a Chines© seamen'.-; strike. The crew of the British steamer Suitai, trading to Hong Kong, struck. The Hong Kong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company havo cancelled sailings to Canton.

TROUBLE EXTENDS.

GENERAL STRIKE AND BOYCOTT,

(BY Ci-BIJE—ITSMS ASSOCIATION'—COPTBIOHT.) DM mill's TXLica&MS..)

Jleceived June lL'th. 11.45 p.m.)

PEKING. June 19

A message from Shanghai states that a mass meeting of students and working citizens at Kwangtung University decided to call'a general stjike and also declared a general boycott of British, Japanese and American goods.

Tli© dato of tho strike is unknown, hut it will probably bo June 20th or June 22nd. It is feared that antiforeign outbreaks will foil oh - .

(Continued at foot of next column.)

DEBATE IN COMMONS.

FOREIGN SECRETARY FIRM.

LIVES AND PROPERTY TO BE

PROTECTED.

(reotbr's telegrams.)

(Received Juno 19th, 11.43 p.m.)

LONDON, Juno 19.

Tho debate in the Houso of Commons on th 6 Shanghai position was opened by Mr C. P. TroVclyan (Labour), who stressed tho alarming condition of China. Ho agreed that it was tho ele*mentary duty of tho Government to protect the lives of its f fcllow-citizens in which connexion ho promised Labour's support, but contended that tho origin of tho trouble was industrial, while tho climax camo through unjustifiableshooting. Ho asserted that the British Government was using its forces to back up capitalistic exploitation.

Mr Aiiston Chamberlain," roplying, admitted that tho industrial conditions were not ideal, and tho British Government was doing, and had always done, its beet to ett'eot an improvement. But tho troublo was really much deeper seated. Ho referred to tho dissatisfaction and discontent of tho almost incoherent and ungoverned congorio of countries forming the China which, notwithstanding tho goodwill and international co-operation promised by tho Washington Conference, prevented the Powers from doing littlo more than stand and watch. He denied that the order to fire was given precipitately. On the contrary action was not taken until tho polico action was endangered with tho arms it contained.

Mr Chamberlain declared that tho Government was anxious to do its utmost to-facilitate tho stabilisation of tho country and proposed to consult with other Powers to facilitftto tho prompt convocation of tljo Chi&eso Tariff Conferonco as foreshadowx-d at Washington. Ho hoped that with tho goodwill of tho Powers and of China they would bo ablo to pilot the country through its transition period and establish government on the Aim foundations of equity and justice Answering a question, "What is tho British Government going to do?" Mr Chamberlain said that in common with tho other Powers interested the British Government would protect tho lives and property of British subjects in China ami would hold tho Chinese Government responsible for all injuries and damage wantonly inflicted either on British subjects or Bntibh property. Thero could bo no weakness or hesitation. It was a fundamental duty of evory British Government, which any British Government must discharge. ] t was not a remedy for tho situation, but it was a necessity arising out oi the outrages which had occurred.