THE IRISH PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1921, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM

UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS TREATY DISCUSSION. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21. In the Dail Eireanii, -Mr Dally supported the Treaty. He said it -are power to the Irish to control their own Government and military, and increased the peoples power to an extent greater than over before. They had power to relegate the King of England to exterior darkness. The delegates at London found when Hon Lloyd George threatened immediate war, that if they failed to sign the treaty and recommended it to the Dail Eireanii that it was not play acting.” H they ,iu m> signed it, fresh hordes of savages would have been let loose in Ireland. They had lost the Republic in order to save the people of Ireland. Before they icjected the Treaty, the people of Ireland must have a national alternatne saw no other alternative before them. Washington Conference. (From the Special Representative of tlie Australian Press Association.) JAPANESE CRITICISM. (Received This Day at 10.10 a.m.) . TOKIO, December 21. whether the Oeeideetel do not contemplate using the Treaty a wedge into Far Eastern affairs. Otlie BuTakcrs criticised the Governments lack of insight into the Washington Conference, as constituting a in ®" " valueless the criticism in view of the fact that Far Eastern discussions a Washington were not yet complete. adding that the abrogation of the Anglo- Japanese Alliance and Ratification of the Four-Power Pact, would benefit all concerned.

CHINESE AFJ’AIRS. WASHINGTON, Dee 19. American and Chinese circles are discussing to-night the effect the change of Government will have on the Chinese delegation here, . results of the change may be summarised; (I) situation of thc_ President, H»6JJ Ch’ang, with Li-Yuan-Hungas his sue cessor- (2) the selection of a strong man a’s Premier, working for the financial rehabilitation of China, as well as her unification; (3) acceptance of an international consortium with tho par i cipation of a Chineso banking group which may advance a loan to purchas the Shantung railway: (1) the adoption of policies calculated to strengthen the hands of the Chinese delegates, with which may be coupled the necessity ol placing their finances in a better condition. It is asserted that the Chines, delegation's finances are so bad at present that some of the delegates litre in arrears with their expenses, and awe meeting them out of their own pockets. Commenting on the change of Governinen at Peking, Dr \\ ellington -Kuo said it would not make any difference to the delegation, as the Foreign Minister in t|ie late Cabinet was now Act-ing-Prime Minister. SHANTUNG RAILWAY. WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. Official:—At the meeting of Chinese and Japanese delegates to-day the discussion centred around a proposal from the Japanese delegation to have certain offices of administration on the Tsing-tao-Tsinan-Fu railway filled with Japanese nationals. The meeting adjourned. It was semiofficially stated tonight that considerable progress had been made towards a- settlement of the Shantung problem. Indeed, the Chinese and Japanese delegates hoped to reach a conclusion, but though they sat late, were .unable to do so. With reference to Japan’s desire to finance the Chinese purchase of tlie Shantung, railway, it lias been suggested in influential quarters that she should use tho present four Power consortium for the purpose. This course is likely to be accepted by China. UNITED SERVICE TEI.EOItAMS. (Received This Day at 1.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. A special representative states though the Ministerial crisis in China is not without reflex in Asiatic circles here, the Chinese delegation puts a hold face on the matter, declaring it has the full support of the Chinese jxmple. Of six present factions in China is that of Fingtiii, in Mukden, beaded bv Genera! Chang Sao Lin, who is now in Peking endeavouring to organise a Cabinet to suit this policy, despite the opposition of General Tsao, Chili faction, Chang whom opponents describe as a dictator, is endeavouring to join hands with the Canton faction under Sun Yat Sen. .who is agreeable to their overtures in the hope of establishing bis position, hut tlie anti-Chang party asserts that Chang’s ultimate aim will he to dominate Sun Yat Sen, after eliminating the Chili faction, thus securing entire control of the situation. Apart from these issues there is little <loubt that financial embarrassment is the main cause of Cabinet’s downfall.