CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[by TKLEORAFH —PF.Ii PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

U.S.A. PLAN FAILS.

WASH IN G TON, Febt-uar.

According to an intimation from official circles here the United States’ neutralization proposal for Shanghai appears to have excited little inteiest in China. The indications are that it !-, not acceptable either to the North or to the South. It is understood also U.S.A. Secretary Kellogg’s plait has not ever impressed Britain as being one strong enough to deal with the Chinese problem. Reports indicate that the temper of the Chinese people is against any such move, the Chinese are suspicious that any such neutralization would lead only to the lessening of Chinese sovereignty, and would iu tbe end. only widen tbe sphere of the foreign control in China. The Chinese situation is now reported to lie giving President Coolidge greater concern than any other foreign question, and it is still looming acutely and menacingly on the horizon.

1A! AItNJTY OF SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI, February 7

Proposals for the neutralisation of the International Settlement in Shanghai that have been advanced ny America have been endorsed by Britain as a solution of the difficulties confronting her here. Hankow reports •state that such an agreement has absolutely been turned down by the leaders of tbe Canton Nationalist Government.

Atr Eugene Chen (Foreign Minister) said that such a,proposal would perhaps Tie welcomed by Chang Tso Lin, the Alanchurian ruler, and by the Peking Government, but the Nationalist Government would have no arrangement of anything of the kind. Sun Mo. the son of the late Dr Sun A'at Sen. the deceased leader of the present Revoltuion. says he sees no necessity to have their own territory protected by foreigners. This is his reply to the Powers’ preparations for an armed intervention,

THE BIG AIITJTARY PREPARATIONS. PEKING, February 7. The report of Air Eugene Chen to tbe American Alinister. in regard to tlie Shanghai neutrality proposal, says: “ If General Sun C’hunn Fang (Northern Commander) and the British authorities in Shanghai had not made such military preparations against the Chinese masses as if they were facing a formidable foe. then Shanghai would naturally he freed from the ravages of fighting between two warring Chinese factions, nor would the Chinese masses be provoked. Therefore, should a disturbance occur in Shanghai, the fault will lie entirely with both the Chinese and the British authorities there.

ATTITUDE OF OTHER LEADERS. PEKIN. February 7. Only yesterday Air Chen said that the Cantonese had never had the intention of entering Shanghai. Chang Tso Lin, the Northern leader, is likewise indisposed to neutralise the foreign settlement at Shanghai. General Sun Oman Fang is at present controlling Shanghai. Ho is holding back the Cantonese successfully. He favours neutralising the settlement but lias-not been consulted, and liis eclipse is considered eventually certain.