CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[i;y telegraph—per press association.]

CENTRAL CHANT; ON THE .\IOVI' PE KINO. February IU.

Changt.xolin lias circularised his generals and allies saying Eengyuli.sning ami Cliiangkaisliek hare Boishevised China with the support of Soviet Russia and various places had suffered ravages of hostilities. The people ot Honan and Jlugeh urged him to despatch troops to help rid them of tinReds, but owing to Honan being under the control of Wupcilu, who refused all offers of help, he could not comply. Wupeifu, however, was unable to impulse the enemies who were gradually gaining ground. lie. therefore, was compelled to order his troops to charge down upon the enemy in order to recapture Wuhan district and further advance on Honan and Canton. He will regard Wupeil'u’s troops stationed at Honan as friendly if they act in concert with him, but if they oppose his armies he will subjugate them.

CANADA AND CHINA. OTTAWA. Eehruary 10

Premier King, during a pronouncement t'luit the Canadian Government aL present cannot see that any useful purpose woidd he served in despatching Canadian troops to China, said Canada was in full sympathy with the British Government’s desire to secure a peaceful settlement, and also sympathises with China’s desire to have control over her own destiny. Only one Canadian was killed in all the years oi civil war. Canada has had no part in shaping British policy or acquiring right and privileges in China. THE CANTON OFFER. TO RETURN CONCESSION AT HANKOW. LONDON, February 10. In the House of Commons, Mr Trevelyan submitted tbe Labour amendment to "the Addross-in-Reply. condemning the military policy towards China. He said Labour's policy was to put China on a footing of national independence iu the fullest meaning, of the term,, and Labour would not allow Britain to quarrel with the Soviet in this matter, because the Soviet was hacking that policy. Personally, he believed that their own Conservative Government were really moving in the same direction, though it was being done cautiously; but tbe sending of their troops had only brought chaos fust when a settlement was about to he reached. Self-respecting governments, lie said, did not sign treaties while the mailed fist was being shaken in their faces. Mr Trevelyan said be regretted that tbe League of Nations’ intervention bad not been sought. There was no proof that they could not have got a guarantee from .Mr Eugene Chen for security. The speaker was of the opinion that the Government’s course constituted a disastrous and an immediate risk of destroying, for a time, the chance of a negotiated settlement. He added: “We send the powder there-, and a snark might light it.” When Sir A. Chamberlain rose to replv. lie emphasised that there was a difference between Air 'I revelyan’s speech and the speeches of Air .MacDonald and Air Thomas. -Mr AfacDonald and ho himself were not far apart in the policy that they desired to pursue in China, but Mr Trevelyan used language which might well he taken elsewhere as an encouragement to refuse a settlement. The Government’s poliev has been to co-operate with the other Powers. Britain, in December, had indicated broad lines upon which she would be. ready to move in a. hone of placing the relations on a friendly basis. All the agitations iu Shanghai and Canton had been anti-British, and, though there were three other concessions in Hankow, it was only Britain’s that was attacked. He asked did ever troons show such gallant sell control ns the naval men did on,the third of January. He said : “Despite the shaking of a- mailed fist in our faces, and a forcible seizure of our concession, we are still negotiating!” All this had happened after Sir L. Lampson’s conversation with Air Chen. It was easy for the Opposition to say that riskmust not be over-ratedhut would Air Trevelyan feel as happy if his wile were in Shanghai or he were there himself? Everv power had taken precaution, hut Britain’s was a special position. The whole drive during the last two years had been against this. They could not wait till danger was at the gates. He outlined the negotiations till, he said, Ah- Chen broke'them ofF on February 5, “ because we decided to negotiate on tbe same terms with tbe Govern-Ti-jAt at Peking.” Af.r Chamberlain siua AH- O’Malley and AH Chen had now reached a point in their negotiations that in regard to the concession, were in agreement. The conditions included that the Concession, which at present was being administered lrv a Chinese Commission, would be returned to the British'Municipal Council at Hankow, which would then be formally handed over to a new Chino- 1 British municipality, elected hv ratepayers. Thus the Chinese would have the same rights as British subjects. “We are prepared to assure Air Chen we will do all in our power to ensure n successful operation of the agreement,’ AD Trevelyan’s amendment to the Address-i 11-Rep lv was rejected by 320 to 113.

LONDON'. Feb. 10. During the debate, Sir A. Chamberlain said Mr Chen is prepared to give an assurance that all the outstanding questions between the Nationalists and the Foreign Powers should he settled by negotiations, hie is also to give an assurance that the Nationalists would not use force, or countenance its use. for the purpose of changing the status of any concession and any international settlement. Deferring to the British troops’ movements. Sir A. Chamberla nn said that the Government could not take out of the hands of the men on the'spot the responsibility tor Uio safety of the lives of British nationals in Slinnglini, for which it hVul ber*n advised that additional troops were necessary. The Government was prepared to accept the O’Malley-Chen agreement with Mr Chen’s assurance, but it reserved h right, to take measures to protect British lives and interests “In order to remove n.nv impression that the troops are going to Shanghai except to protect Bn to,, lives and interests, ’ Sir A. Cbantbc lain declared, “the Government neve contemplated the use oi Boons for a ' other purpose.” It would land o v such ns were necessary, These "O'lld be stationed in the Settlement. They would not be moved outside. . ‘' in a. grnvo emergency. Ho said that Britain would continue strict neuti.ilitv with regard to China s evil «a. ; 'Sir A. Chamberlain continued : Hie • troops'from India will be landed at •Shanghai. This, wo are advised, is immediately necessary to -safeguard British life, but the troops comm from the Mediterranean and fiom Bn land will he concentrated nt H° n - Kot They will only go to Shanghai if required by the urgency ot ••"> fresli or greater danger. ** Kepiving to Mr Ban,say MacDonald, mf A Chamberlain added that their whole" object was to remove app.ehensioii in certain quarters in China as to the purpose of sending their f'>ue - that they were to bo used for. • Inwords had been telegraphed t O’Malley for communication to •

THE BRITISH FOBCES AT SHANGHAI. IOXDON. !• elirnarv IL. (Mr Baldwin, replying to d there were f>3oo Hriusn Shanghai. The total ' lt, ; C ‘ S ould sident m China vas 10-1 • ■ „ ivc sz sorter % "^T,In r iha" li'imi'it waf md'desir: able that the; should know too many Chen’** Sir A*! ClOmherlain added; “I SCot predict the future I-ansc ; Hm course of Staled to isay as unceitftin. I in the House ot, much as 1 f “"V_ r ()f giving offence to Commons, foi tear o g « , V eBritlil, aim. will "»°" s C (the new Labour M.TVj said he not approach the C os - a great nation ioi the P ■ pawnbroker. He remarked: I * «■ must scuttle, let us scuttle vith d g pjty! AYe have pursued a policy

China that has been conceived in arrogance, and conducted in panic!” Mr Mosley instanced the unuoeessury despatch of the troops. »Sir Alfred Aloud said that ho did not understand why the Labourites always assumed that their own fellowcountry mini were wrong, and their lives valueless. The Labour amendment, be asserted, invited a massacre of Britishers, and it ought, to lie withdrawn .

Mr I fallen Guest (Laliour) said that ho could not support the amendment. No Opposition ought ask the Government to withdraw troops which had been requested by their advisers on the spot. 'This demand only came from a. section of tbe Labour Party.

\ Air Ramsay .MacDonald, summing up on behalf of the Opposition, said be hoped that the effect and opportunities of Sir A. Chamhorlain’s speech would he duly weighed in .Hankow. The Labour Party’s position was clear. There was not dispute about the negotiations. The division was upon the despatch of the troops. The Government policy began with (ielence. hill it as one bound to end with oflenee! The Government had taken, as a first step, what might to Live been the last step. Air Locker Lampxon (Conservative) in closing the debate, said the cause ol the present ferment was the spread of the national desire to free China from foreign control. It was a . genuine movement, (although outside i nil nonces Imd intervened, and were using it t |U their own purposes. There was iu> Chinese Government at present able, to guarantee the. safety of our people. Sir Worthington Evans informed Air Gillett (Labour ALP. for Finsbury) that the estimated cost ot transporting the troops to China whs £015,000. Mi- Applin (Conservative ALB. Hr Enfield): “Are the troops now eii route more than sufficient for the effective defence of a Shanghai front ol sixteen miles?” Sir L. W. Evans: “I think not.