The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1927. THE CHINESE PUZZLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1927. THE CHINESE PUZZLE.

I'm: general .situation in China continues puzzling. Hero and there is an illuminating incident or comment, hut ipiite a silence in regard to any official British statement, 'flic press comments from forengn quarters are not very helpful in clearing the air, hut rather pourtray a feeling that Britain while acting alone is endeavouring to do .something to seek her own ends. The position at Uankow is still indefinite except that while many of the Europeans have heeu evacuated and the banks closed, the cessation of trading in that (piarler is being felt seriously by the Chinese residents. The loss of good British money is a very serious matter, and here we see the one illuminating feature of the puzzling situation. British diplomacy may have foreseen the effect of the closing down of the Hankow concession as a method to bring home to the dull Chinese mind something of the immediate effect of driving the British out. This move was porferahle to a free use of cannon, and more immediately effective. The anti-foreign attitude is very pronounced, and while it is Britain’s turn to-day, it may he America’s, .Japan’s, France’s or some other Great Power tu-nibrrow. On that account there is the suggestion already that the United States is more disposed to side with Britain, while Japan is jealously regarding the situation and possible developments among the Powers. In that connection it is significant that there is talk already of co-oeprafpon should 'Shanghai lie menaced. However, the Powers are realising that if Great Britain were really to he a victim of circumstances it would not he long before the turn of the other foreigners in China would come. Mutual self-protection is. therefore, inevitable. The Soviet is still being credited with organisng the attack on Britain. There is. of course. a great deal of evidence of Soviet intrigue in China, and that British interests should ho singled out ill particular is considered too significant to he overlooked as to the generic cause of the set against. English interests. The anti-foreign movement has often recurred in China, hut never with greater effect than on the present occasion. This is due to the instability of lawful authority in China. The country is so torn by internal revolution and rebellion, that at the moment the only Chinese authority to which an appeal can he made with any hope of success is that of Canton. But even t,lie Cantonese authority is doubtful though the British memorandum seeking a state of peace and security was addressed to that quarter. That step would not have been taken without a serious review of the situation and its general consequences. It is notable that a British official statement is with-held, as also any really official account of the latest happenings. Britain has to work out its destiny alone, and it car lie well understood that the negotiations should continue in secret till brought to a head. The fact that no official announcement is made despite the general gravity of the situation, is in itself some warrantry that matters are progressing on lines of some general satisfaction, and that all in good

time the- veil will lie lifted and wo will have the official story of its real outcome. For the present, then, patience and forbearance may l>o practiced, and the outcome awaited hopefully.