CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[by telegraph—per press association

POSITION IN CHINA. SHANGHAI, February 7. News from Hankow states the situation is quiet. 'Die streets are placarded with posters “ Shanghai captured h.v Cnntone.se.” It is reported hundreds of Nationalists’ agents have been sent to Shanghai with the object of stirring up tlio workers.

According to a reliable foreign report Sun Chunn Fang’s supporters captured Chuchow which was the Southerners advanced base. The deflected troops arc retiring towards the Kiaugsi border.

It is well known the Southerners lately have been hampered through lack of finance and shortage ol ammunition and difficulties of transportation. There appears little reason to doubt this report, which, il true, removes at least for the present, the Cantonese threat on Shanghai.

NEUTRAL ZONE SCORESTED. LONDON, February 7. The Cabinet to-day discussed tho complicated and many-sided Chinese problems, but it is understood that the Foreign Office at present is unable to throw further light -on the precise situation of the negotiations with Chen. Official circles whole-heartedly welcome the United States’ suggestion for a neutrality zone at Shanghai. This is openly welcomed as a parallel policy to Great Britain’s, and as evidence that America is satisfied with Britain's purely defensive aims in spite of her apparent isolation in the despatch of a defensive force. The new American proposal, combined with the fact that she herself is accumulating forces as fast as ships can arrive from the Philippines and Guam, is accepted as evidence that the United States recognises the rightness of the British policy in continuing the negotiations with the Chinese Governments, but unswervingly adverting to her determination to be ready, if necessary. to defend British subjects. Mussolini's declaration approving of Great Britain’s steps adds force to official circles’ claim that other Powers are steadily coming into line to pursue a similar policy to Britain’s, and it is noteworthy only to-day that the I' rench foreign office scmi-officially intimated its entire concurrence in the. American neutral zone plan. The French view is that the suggestion comes most appropriately from the Ended States, because sbe does not possess a concession in Shanghai, and therefore stands in the position of greater detachment and impartiality than the European. Powers.