CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[i:y telegraph—rEß press association.] FOREIGN OFFICE EXPLAINS. LONDON, Feb. 10. With reference to Hankow negotiations.the Foreign Office explains there was never any rupture. O’Malley and Chen reached an agreement during the week-end and their signature w.:is expected immediately, but at the last moment ('lien sought a fuller explanation of passages in Sir A. Chamberlain's speech. O’Malley felt ho could not reply offhand, therefore he ciibled the Foreign Office for a complete statement of the position and requested new instructions. The apparently unexpected last minute interruption of the negotiations was due to Chen’s queries .which have been misinterpreted by the press of China as a definite rupture, while the delay in the transmission of O’Malley’s lengthy message accounts for the absence of official news here, long after the press had announced the rupture. It is understood that Cabinet dismissed China to-day nnd the. newest hitch is not regarded in any wav as an insuperable obstacle to a settlement.

A CHINESE STATEMENT. SHANGHAI. Feb. 16,

Sun Chilling in i> statement concerning the American proposal lor neutralisation ol Shanghai. says it is a- sincere desire to help China and ► void further outrages by revolutionists. hut unfortunately Air Coolidgc has not been advised as to the conditions. Shanghai is Chinese territory for the peace and order of which T am fully responsible. The strength of mv reorganisation armies j,s not only sufficient to lnaintpin peace and order in Shanghai, but also forms the basis of mv plans for the restoration ot Kiimgsu. lam in lull co-operation with Chaiigtsoliu who is advancing to attack tho Cantonese Government. Kiangsu resents discussion ot ant plans in regard to Shanghai with an\ force of revolutionaries. We have assumed and maintained our power ot responsibility and until we have failed, no foreign power is justified m premising diplomatic proposals upon such a. failure. Furthermore in pursuit- of our purpose to maintain order. v.e must have freedom of action and can oly regard the efforts of any foreign power to place limitations upon ns. as all act of intervention favouring our and their enemy. The facts of the situation are a minor political poitv which had never controlled more than one city in the south, became associated with Bolsheviks who seek a world revolution, so that they can experiment with their social and economic ideas, which have failed in their own country, but which they are now imposing on China here. They hive destroyed property in five provinces, poisoned the minds of our youth, abused our sense of religion, stopped our trade, debased our currency and have now involved us in the possihilitv of war with foreign powers. We must fight them as we would fight plague and wo will succeed.

BSE OF SHANGHAI RAILAVAA' PEKING. Feb. 17. The Shanghai -Hankow Railway has suspended its passenger service. It is understood this is due to a concentration of the rolling stock being made at the city of Hangchow (100 miles south of Shanghai) in view of tho possibility of General Sun. Fuan Fang’s Northern troops falling back on Shanghai from the Hangchow vicinity. G \TEAVAY TO SHANGHAI. PEKING. Feb. 10. Hangchow City, the gateway to Shanghai. 100 miles inland, and connected with it liv a railway which has been hammered incessantly by the Cantonese forces for the past month without avail, against tho Northern forces of General Sun Oman Fang (who Is Shanghai’s Alilitary Governor), is about to fall. General Sun Oman Fang is comma ndoering every engine and every carriage in preparation to make a retreat.

The Cantonese are expected to capture the city in a Few days.

Hangchow messages say : “It is officially believed that the “Reds” arc finally bidding for possession of Shanghai. hut whether they will actually attempt to enter it is uncertain, as they fear labour troubles, and consequent curtailment of the taxable element.”

The foreigners are not disturbed by the reports, owing to the presence of British soldiers. Ilankow (up the Yangtze) continues to be silent regarding the negotiations between Air O’Afallev and Air Chen.

HANKOW CITY CAPTURED. SHANGHAI, Feb. 17

Reliable reports state that Hangchow has been captured by the Cantonese.

General Sun Oman Fang, Northern Commander, is retreating northward.

A number of liis forces at Ningpo (a seaport east of Hangchow) were .surrounded, hut they escaped seawards, where they commandeered three ships. General Sun Oman. Fang is nowforced to make his last line of defence at Stmkiang. which is forty miles from Shanghai to the southward, on the railway to Hangchow.