CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association

CHINESE SURTAXES. SHANGHAI, Jan. 17. A proclamation by the Chinese Com missioner of Customs declares that al foreign goods entering Shanghai Iron 20th. January will pay 5 per cent duty provided bv the Treaty and ai additional 2,[ per cent. The total con

sequontly will be 7J per cent. Tin proclamation points nut- that surtaxe; have been collected in other province: \ Wv some time past.

CHINESE NEWS. (Received this (Jay at 11.0 a.in.) SUAXC HA r, .Jau. 17. .Messages from Foochow indicate a; agitation similar to the Boxer year has been worked up. There is an old story of foreigners killing Chinese children revived. A rumour was circulated that Spanish nuns murdered Chinese children, and about 20 bodies of babies were produced, whicli were alleged to brought out of the nunnery in a decomposed condition. As a result the premises were attacked and priests and nuns had to flee in disorder, after which other foreign property was looted The evacuation of Bzeestian is proceeding systematically. Britishers are leaving Chcngtu in hatches of thirty at it time. A moh< at Hankow tofe down barricades around the Japanese concession. JAPAN’S ATTITUDE. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) TOKYO. Jan. 17. “AY hile sympathising with the legitimate aspirations of Chinese, Japan is ready to defend her legal interests in Avery way,” declared the Premier, at a- meeting of Kenseikai leaders, because it is consistent with the pof.’ic.v of friendliness towards the welfare of lour hundred million neighbours. Japan is now recognised by both China and the Powers as holding a position where she is (title to reconcile American and European policies towards China with Chinese desires. Japan is ready to assume this duty. Baron Tanaki, leader of the main opposition, addressing the Seiyukai agreed that Japan was the responsible leader in the Orient but bad been neglectful of her plain duty to face the situation that everyone bad seen developing in the past two years. The Government’s prf7icy of non-interven-tion was simply the result of unpreparedness tot act. The time had arrived when Japan should act independently, assuming a leadership in China which was properly hers.