TROUBLE IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1927, Page 2

TROUBLE IN CHINA

’Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.}

A DENIAL. SHANGHAI, Jan. 7. The reported restoration of Hankow is denied. HANK OAF CRISIS. SHANGHAI, Jan. 7. Reports from Hankow received hourly. fail to show any decrease in the gravity of the situation. Bather the reports emphasise the completeness of the British overthrow, however temporarily it may he. The latest despatches stale that the British (lag no longer flies over the British Consulate, and that the British Consul is virtually a prisoner in his own Consulate, which is guarded by Chinese soldiers. Those Britishers who have not yet evacuated Hankow, dare not enter the streets, and they are hiding in the principal British buildings, which are picketed by Chinese troops.

The Custom Hones has ceased to function.

The British concession at Hankow is governed by a Committee of five Kunmintung Members, who have issued a proclamation announcing that the Concessions no longer belongs io Britain.

The British cenotaph at Hankow is now unrecognisable under a coat of propaganda posters, and anti-British handbills. Several British administrative buildings have been partially destroyed - by mobs, despite the military authorities promise to control the sitution. AMERICAN AVAR.SHIPS. SHANGHAI, Jan. 8. Aditional American destroyers are sailing at top speed for Hankow, as the result of the evacuation of American nationals. Tt appears that the extremists, having overthrown the British, are now directing their attention to other nationals, as was predicted.

FEELING IN SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI, Jau. 7. It is significant that local Chinese say that Britain gave up Hankow because she is afraid to fight China, which is really believed by the Chinese. This will he an important weapon for agitators. Outlying missionaries are hastening to the Yangtsze for protection. Eugene Cheng met the leading Americans at Hankow to discuss tho position, and lie assured them that there was no reason for panic, declaring that the National Government could control the situation.

Later on the majority of the American community decided to evacuate. There was a meeting called with tho British with a similar object, blit it was a fiasco, only one person turning up besides the Consul-General, Air Goffo.

Only one feeling prevails here among Britishers namely utter lack of confidence.

LOSS OF MONEY. LONDON, Jan. 8. Colonel Smallwood, the Daily Telegraph’s Peking correspondent states: “Special fears are expressed here that neither the British Foreign Office nor the British public has realised the seriousness of the present situation. AVe have lost the Hankow concession, and with it- millions of pounds. This occurrence was unthinkable three months ago. In another three months we may be out of Shanghai, although it is unthinkable at present!”

HOB' IT STARTED. SHANGHAI, Jan. 7

The first British demonstration at Hankow was on Monday. It was accompanied by bloodshed. This appears irom delayed reports. It is believed that it was this bloodshed which caused Tuesday’s riots, resulting m the abandonment of the British concessions.

Public meetings are being held daily here, informing the labourers that the British marines at Hankow killed and wounded several lecturers in a bayonet charge, and this is borne out- by the Japanese nows agencies.

LONDON PRESS. LONDON, Jan. 8. The press here criticises the unusual frankness of the British Government’s policy in China. The "Morning Post” says it considers that "the British Note has failed.” The paper continues : "As far as the Note to China was intended to placate the Cantonese, it has been received with contempt, while as far as it was designed to promote unity Mt EuroJ pea'm and American tpolicy., it? has achieved nothing as far as the immediate situation is concerned. If Shanghai goes after Hankow, we may hid good-bvo to our commercial position in China. That would be a calamity which tlio country would never forgive anv Government.”

The "Daily Telegraph” states: “The Government has never repudiated an obligation to protect the legitimate interests of its nationals in China, and the country awaits some clear sign that a policy of allowing matters to drift to ruin has been replaced by one more worthy of our place in the world.” FRENCH PRESS CRITICISM. PARRS, Jan. 8. The French press is becoming increasingly critical ctjuecjning tlio British policy in China. The paper “L’Hommo I.ibro.” however. says that it wonders whether the Cantonese extremists’ brutality will leave Britain any option but the violence which she is most anxious to avoid.

The paper remarks that the L'nited States. Japan and France have adopted a policy of reserve, so that Britain finds herself alone in confronting the Cantonese wave. “L’Homrac Libre” considers London’s deep anxiety is justified, because it is bard to see how Britian will counter this movement, which is aiming at her exmdsion from China.

The paper "Excelsior” urges the greatest French vigilance and care. Britain’s mistakes it says, cannot relieve the other Powers of their ties of traditional solidarity in China. "La Qnotidien” says that Britain’s prestige in the Far East was rudely shocked when she was compelled to strike her flag and to evacuate her women and children from the Yangtze YaWev to Shanghai.