CHINESE TURMOIL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1925, Page 3

CHINESE TURMOIL

[Australia & N.X. Caldo Association.] STUDENTS’ PLOT DISCOYERKD. {.Received this day at ill a.m.) SHANGHAI, June 25. With disturbing reports elsewhere the Shanghai police obtained information of a widespread plot in which the students were to hire motor ears, da--.li round the settlement throwing bomband shooting. The police have ordered the garages not to hire ears except to known customers. Volunteer specials have been mobilised and distributed at tactical points. The shipping position is worse. The Auglo-.Japanese ocean-goers are avoiding Shanghai. The Nvk Coy lias suspended sailings from Shanghai except two fast mail boats, pending the approval of the Government. CHARGE AND REPLY. HONG KONG, Juno 25.

The Civil Government of Canton, in a note to the British Consul General, states, inter alia, in reference to the procession in Shanghai, that when it had almost entirely passed Shake St., soldiers and police, in the British concession suddenly opened tiro with machine guns und rifles on tho crowds in tho procession on the oilier side of the canal, whereupon soldiers and police in the French concession likewise fired big guns, killing and wounding over one hundred. This brutal killing was pro media ted and secretly planned. When be, (the civil governor) heard the particulars he was

amazed, and was in duty- bound i-> enter a most serious protest, as well as to state clearly that the entire responsibility for the affair rested upon the civil: and military officials id the British, French and Portuguese soldiers, and police and gunboat concerned.

Tin* British Consul-General, in replypoints out that the Portuguese gunboat took no part. It was defence forces of the concessions alone that replied to the'attack made on them by Chinese on the oilier side ol the rnnsd. The Note adds:—“T can say from the evidence of my own eves that the firing was first started b.v Chinese. He and the senior naval officer were present for the purpose of preventing precipitate action on Ihe pari of the defenders, and lie and a naval officer escaped with their lives I rom a hail of bullets directed at them byChinese. It was only then, in sell defence, that tire was ordered from Shamecn and l»y the French forces, which were similarly attacked. He repudiates the charge that responsibility rests with the foreigners and asks the Civil Governor to take complete -measures to safeguard the lives of Britishers around Canton.