CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[ay TKi.r.OßAT'ti—ri:n press association.]

EVACUATING. SHANGHAI, Feh. II

The first group of foreigners evacuating Szechuan province, have arrived in a packed river steamer. Ihe party included seventy-eight Canadians. forty-four Englishmen and Australians aiul twenty-seven Americans. The refugee colony now exceeds five hundred.

The “Daily TelegtDph" Peking c'orres|)T>mlent states .Sir A. Chamberlain’s speech was favourably received but the British Legation has no news of the agreement between O’Malley and Chen. Opinion here is that if Chen signs, it will be bemuse reason influences able to control military and civil parties represented respectively by southern commander ami Chen. Rather than lose control of either party the Russians may desist from attempt to influence tiic Cantonese, and lan agreement may he reached. Tho dismissal of Agler has been withdrawn and hollas been granted a year’s leave.

XEAVS FBOAI PEKING. PEKING. Feb. 11

Aglen handed over charge of the customs and loan service to Edwards to-day. It is understood Aglen who intends to return to England remains and will ho gazetted and treated as inspector-general of customs lor a year.

CHINESE VIEWS. PEKING, Feb. 11

Interviewed by the Japanese AgencyGeneral s Yangluting (Cliangtsolin s chief staff) said it goes without savin, r that AVupeiiu is on our side, but in”view" of the thrditening situation in Chennng Fengteinsitcs will advance on Honan in order to restrain the activities of .southern forces. Referring to Chiangktiishok and American pro--I,nasi for neutralisation ot Shanghai. AUmgvuting remarked that it Chiangkit i slick would thoroughly suppress communism iu China it would not be impossible to bring about a compromise between northern and southern aims. Regarding the American proposal ro--1 tiling to Shanghai they are unable to approve of it. CANTON RULE. PEKING, Feb. 12. The Nationalist Ministry of Communications lias sent all otdoi to MPicard d’Estehui, Co-Director General of Posts at Peking, to the effect that in all the territories under the Canton Nationalist Goorument. the Postal Commissioners in all districts shall he apponted by the Nationalist Alinistry of ommuuications. No commissioners appointed from Pekin will he allowed to assume or continue in office after February 11th. SHANGHAI. Feh. 11 -

Choit has notified the Consulates that the 'Canton Government's political Bureau has ordered that no more cases on behalf of foreign plaintiffs will lie heard in the Alixed Court. Such cases must he tried before the Chinese city magistrate, without any consular official as assessor. FOREIGN FOIL PEKING. Feb. 12. Transports with two battalions of the Durham and Gloucestershire infantry, from India, have arrived here for the defence of Shanghai. There are now twenty three forei"-*' warships here. Three British battalions and’ a thousand United States marines are also at Shanghai. OBJECTS OF BRITISH POLICY. LONDON, Feb. 12. The newspaper correspondent, Air Pooler, states: “The debate on China in the House of Commons, emphasised that disunion is rampant amongst the Labourites, which was most notable at the “United Labour” demonstration at the Albert Hall, where a derisory spectacle was witnessed of the Chairman. Air Hicks, denouncing a new war ill China, while Air Ramsay AlacDoiiald protested that there was no war. and expressed his belief in the genuine peacefulness of the Government’s intentions, but criticised the unwisdom of Hs actions. Air Lanslnuy and Air Alaxton, who supported him, said they discerned behind the defence of Shanghai an offensive against their friends of Aloscow.”

Mr Poolev adds: “Despite Air Lloyd George’s jibe at the “See Reds,” China is rapidly developing into a Russian question. Whether Britain will continue to harbour the Russian trade agency at Ohesham House, which is described as a nest of anti-Brit F'i

pagandists, remains to lie seen. Indoubtedly the Cabinet is divided, but, it is thought that there is a majority for exmtlsion.”

NORTHERN DEFEAT. SHANGHAI. Feb. 11

Mr Po iley says : “No steps are likely to he taken at present, as to expelling the Russian trade representatives, because Britain's trade with Russia amounts to several millions yearly, while large machinery orders are actually in hand, and further orders are in course of negotiation. The expulsion of the Russian from London is therefore a considerable question for flic Conservatives. On this subject flic views of the Liberals and Labour coincide, because the policy of expulsion is championed by those members of the Cabinet who are most obnoxious to the Opposition. It is only necessary for Mr Churchill or Sir Wm. Joynson Hicks to propose anything for the 1 iherals vehemently to oppose it. while Labour invariably believes that England is always wrong. The mcntuFty of Labour is evidenced by their selection of a ■Chinese as Labour candidate for Holhorn. The real paints to he considered are. however, whether Russia really is behind China, i r is being used by China. There is in evidence available that the heathen Chinee is

any less heathen and wily than in. Hie past. At least, it is just, as probable that the Chinese are using Ruski as that Ruski is nsng the Chinese. Furthermore. or what benefit is it to Russia. which has abandoned Communism at home, to i (immunise China ? ]t is not more, likely that Moscow's interestill China are a reversion to the Tzarist foreign policy, which led to the RussoJapanese war? Chinese Nationalism antedates Russian Bolshevism hv many years, and the late T)r Sun Yat Son the world had known long before it kimw Lenin. Mr Chen is Sun’s disciple. Just as Sun. when the republic was established, discarded the Japanese. who genorouslv aided him. so il is likely that Mr Chon will discard M. Borodin, the Rovieter. An unconfirmed report states that General Run Chtian Fang has . been heavily defeated by the Cantonese, and General Roihoa Ran has already lretray<’d the Northerners and has joined (lie Southerners.