TROUBLE IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1927, Page 2

TROUBLE IN CHINA

fAustralian & N.Z. Cable Association.] SERIOUS XFAYS. PEKING, Jan. 121. A private foreign wire from Hankow states the situation there has developed seriously. A thousand British and American men are being evacuated. No official confirmation has been received up to the present. AAI F.R IC AN’ PR EGA UTIONS. PEKING, Jan. 21. The American .Minister, Air McAlurraY. who was going to America to confer with Air Kellogg in regard to affairs in China, has been recalled to Peking by cable from Washington. Hitherto there were no signs of disturbances, strikers, or anti-foreign feeliiiir here, but the authorities are taking all precautions. It is believed Fcngtion and Alanchurinn forces are determined to prevent trouble. Double guards .with fixed bayonets are posted outside the foreign residences and picked patrols march I lie streets all night, with orders to ruthlessly suppress disturbers of the peace. American authorities warned their nationals that the signal of trouble in the daytime will he a Blue Peter below the Stars and Stripes on the wireless tower of the Legation, and at night six red light'!. On receipt of the warning Americans are instructed to concentrate on three given points from which tliov will bo escorted to the Legation.

BRITISH CABINET

ITS WARLIKE PRECAUTIONS. LONDON. -1:111. 21. Air Baldwin, the Prime Minister, delayed his departure to Chequers Court in order that he might preside at a meeting of the Cabinet. Alter a Cabinet meeting to-dav, the Government issued a statement reiterating that its naval and miliCirv dispositions in connection with China are of a precautionary nature. The statement added that sensational announcements in this connection should he disregarded. The Government’s sole object wins to fulfil an elementary duty of protecting British lives.

The Government stated that there had been no modification of its conciliator! noss towards the legitimate aspirations of Chinese nationalism, as laid down in the British Alenio.iniduiu of the 24th of December last. It continued : “On the contrary, conversations are progressing at Hankow and Pekin, which, if successful, will largely realise concessions which the British Government is willing to make for the purpose of placing Anglo-Chin-eso relations on an equitable and a mutually profitable Ijisis, leading to a friendly settlement.

TWO REG lAIENTS. LONDON. Jan. 21. The Cameron inn Highlanders and the First Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to China. All their leave lias been stopped. BRITISH RESERVISTS. LONDON. .Tan. 22. The War Office has issued a communique re China. It states: “Foui battalions have been ordered to proceed to China, including certain categories of reservists.” A semi-official explanation of the communique says: “Over much import•nice must not l>o attached to the calling up of these reservists, who are only those recently discharged, ‘here is no intention of calling ui> the reserves generally by a Royal Proclamation.”

It is reiterated that the situation in China shows no change. Therefore this decision Has not been taken because alarming news has been received, but it i s pointed out that it would be futile to await bloodshed before taking precautions. Such measures are merely precautionary. It is added: “We cannot too strongly emphasise that the British Government has no vfDrlike intentions, flu; negotiations may be slow, but they alwaj’s are with the Chinese.”

FOUR BTG WARSHIPS. PORT SAID. .Tan. 21

The worships Frobisher. Delhi. Danac and Dragon have arrived here and aie now re-fuelling. . They are proceeding to China immediately.

LABOUR LEADER’S VIEW. LONDON, .Tan. 21. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, leader of the Parliamentary Labour _ Party, makes a statement in the “Daily Herald” regarding bis position on tbe China situation. He says: “Precautions must be taken till negotiations have removed the dmigers, but precautions can be easily overdone. No one should welcome more than Eugene Chen precautions than mean no menace to him.” ... , “My fear is that the limits of wisdom are being exceeded and that Clicn mav think that the forces are being gathered as a threat. I do not think that this is Sir Austen Uiamberlain’s intention, but programmes oi action Rave an unfortunate habit of setting tbe intentions aside.” “Let British Labour keep in touch with Chen, as well as with their own Government and put up the strongest plea they <sm for both sides to negotiate for the suppressing of force. I hope that the Government will issue, as soon as expedient instructions to Secretary O’Malley.” STEAMER COMMANDEERED. SYDNEY, Jan. 23. An echo of the Chinese trouble is to be found in .advices that have- been, received from Calcutta that a BritishIndia lino steamer which usually runs to Australia have been commandeered by the Indian Government to send her to China. A smaller steamer replaces her oil the Australian run. A STAND AT SHANGHAI. LONDON. January 21. The significance ot Air. Lloyd George’s and Mr. Ramsay MacDonald's recent, interviews with Sir Austin Chamberlain (Foreign Secretary) regml ing China, was that Britain’s decision to make a final stand at Shanghai with whatever military and naval forces that are needed in the defence or British interests was fully explained. It is understood that both Air. Lloyd George and Air. AfacDonald assented thereto.

BRITAIN’S REQUEST TO JAPAN

TOKIO, Jan. 22.

The Japanese newspapers assert that Britain lias asked Japan to assist her in mi effort to restore her lost position on the river Yangtze Kiang. but Japan lias courteousiv declined.

The papers state tWat Japan lias pointed out that the delicacy of the present situation demands that Japan should refrain from the use of naval or military demonstoations indicating force. SHANGHAI STRIKERS. SHANGHAI, Jan. 22. The omni Wis attendants to-day joined the strike. The police have now been mobilised in anticipation of further trouble. TROOPS FOR CHINA. (Received this day at 8 a.m.l DELHI. January 22. The Indian Government lias chartered two A.P.C.A.R. Line steamers to convey troops to China. It is understood the 20th Infantry Brigade from Jhansi. consisting of British artillery and infantry and Indian troops, will embark in a. few days at Calcutta.