CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE

EVACUATION OF HANKOW. BY BRITISH FORCES. GRAVE POSITION. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.j (Received this day at 10.15 a.niA SHANGHAI, January G. By six o’clock yesterday evening it was extremely dangerous for any foreigner to appear in the British conecsat Hankow. British volunteers who were standing by the headquarters all the afternoon and evening, by agreement with the Chinese authorities. commenced the- evacuation at 9.80, all rifles, ammunition and Lewis guns being taken to a hulk .where the ;navy was moored, all gear being removed in lorries and private cars carrying Chinese troops on the footboards as a precaution against the mobs. The evacuation was carried out without a hitch by two in the morning.

Many British residents were besieged by howling mobs after the evacuation. Headquarters are now in charge of Chinese soldiery and this morning pickets of soldiers are keeping order. The population was surprised by tlte fact that the Concession was allowed to be taken over without defence. All Chinese workers in British firms have been called out to attend an antiBritish mass meeting. Delinquents will he forced to attend. Business men in Shanghai regard the loss of Hankow British concession as the deal'll blow to British prestige in China, unless immediate steps are taken for the recovery. This is accentuated by the fact that Chinese aid, was asked to combat the disturbances. The primary purpose of the foreign navies in China, is to protect foreign lives and property, yet on a crisis arising the Navy retired, abandoning foreign property to the mercy of the mobs. Britain, no doubt, was laced by the most difficult situation in the history of Anglo-Chinese relations. The riots were well planned, the Beds knowing an insufficient British force was available to combat disorders.

British residents are ol divided opinion concerning Britain s best course. Failure to regain the concession obviously means the early abolition of other treaty port concessions and the loss of the only guarantee, of safety of millions of foreign capital and thousands of lives. Britain is facing the disorders alone. There is not a single instance of other nationals being molested.

JAPANESE VIEWS. TOTvTO, Jan. 0. The city has resumed its every day business. Political parties and business men of Tokyo and Osaka are much disturbed hv dispatches from Hankow, briefly outlining the serious situation especially affecting the British merchants and residents. The Japanese News Agency report says Chinese occupied the concession driving out the British. It is understood here a now situation has been created hr the action of the British police in firing on a Chinese mob and killing one. It is

feared a new crisis has arisen. Much wjeponds upon the British answer to the Kuomintung challenge.

CHINESE DEMANDS. (Receiyed this day at 12.25 p.m.) SHANGHAI. Jan. 6. Representative labourers, farmers, merchants, students and soldiers met and formulated ii series of five articles . which if approved by the National Government will be presented to the BriW tish Consul. Article 1 contains the following eight points:—(l) A protest to he sent the Consul by the Nationalist Government; (2) A request for the British Government to pay an indemnity for those killed or wounded on 3rd. September (3) To punish British uni‘J formed troops who used force, and hand them over to the-Chinese authorities; (4) Abolish all volunteers, and send gunboats away; (5) Apologise to Sino Government; (G) Chinese in British concession must 1m? allowed to hold mass meetings, make speeches, and hold processions; (7) Volunteers and armed police must no longer carry arms or wear uniforms; (8) Sino Government must send civil and armed police to the British concession to maintain peace and order and the headquarters of garrison troops Tie established there. i Article .2A big demonstration J parade to he held in the/ native city in the afternoon. Article *3:—An economic boycotting committee should he organised. Article 4:—Boycotting British Committee of "Wuhan cities should he organised. Article 5:-—Telegraph. world-wide declaring the outlawing of the British, foreign ultimatum must he complied with within 72 hours.

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f Australian tfc N.Z. Cable Association.j

U.S. AIR PROGRAMME, •W A SHI XCI T ON, Jan G.

The Assistant Secretary of War (.Mr Davison), who is in charge of aviation told the House Military Committee that the air appropriations had been so cut by Budget that it was impossible to carry out the first year of a five-year building programme. He would he unable to purchase sixty-five bombing and twenty-six attack planes, thereby provided. AN ENORMOUS FEE. ,WASHINGTON, .Tan. 6.

It is reported that by a second St. Louis agreement, Tunnev is guaranteed four hundred thousand dollars and GO per cent, of the not proceeds, which are expected to be over a million. Rickard is to announce his opponent not later than June loth.