CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[ill' TELESKAFII — rEIt PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

NEWS FROM CHINA. LONDON. February 20

The Foreign Office to-night is without confirmation that Hankow agreement has been signed, but this was expected to follow Hie new instructions given Mr O’Malley, largely detaching local from general problems. Sir A. ( haniberlaiii declines to comment but is likely to make a statement in the Commons to-morrow.

Official news readied the Foreign Office of the declaration of martial law at Shanghai. Ail newspapers correspondents record stern measures by the police who are summarily beheading tin- ring leaders of disturbances and affixing their heads to long bamboos as an object lesson to others. The “ Daily Telegraph’s ” correspondent says it is believed the agreement covers the concessions at Hankow and Kiukiang. SQUAD OF EXECUTIONERS. LONDON. Fob. 20. The situation at Shanghai resembles that at Hankow before the occupation by the Ctintoiio.se. So long as a mob a tuck is threatened, the presence of European troops in Shanghai is essential for the protection of foreigners. Meanwhile the local authorities are doing their best. There is a squad of public executioners who are parading the streets of the Chinese city in Shanghai and are executing agitators without either trial or formality. The pickets, preventing labourers from going to work, are being arrested and decapitated. Communist, distributing handbills are meeting a similar fate. Meanwhile the British troops are confined to their barracks to minimise the danger of a clash. CONDON. Feb. 21. The “Daily New’s” Shanghai correspondent says: The beheading of nine agitators caught intimidating shopkeep" agitators caught intimidating shopkeepers in the native city of Shanghai, has unpleasantly reminded the Cantonese that General Sun Oman Chang’s authority in Shanghai has not been impaired. and it lias caused a slowing down of the strike movement.

HANKOW AGREEMENT. (Received this dnv at 9.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI. February 2. The Chon-O’Malley Hankow agreement provides for it dissolution of the British municipality on A larch loth, whereupon the administration of the concession area is formally handed over to tlie new Chinese municipality. Meanwhile, the policing of the concession and management of public works and sanitation are conducted by tlie Chinese authorities. The Nationalist Government will set up special Chinese municipality administrative regulations which will he communicated to his Majesty’s Minister by the Nationalist Minister of Foreign Affairs, the regulations remaining in force until the conclusion of negotiations for the amalgamation of the five Hankow concessions into one unified municipal district.

The agreement relative to the British concession at Kiukiang is one on similar lines to Hankow settlement. If any direct losses, due to the action or culpable negligence' of agents of tbe Nationalist- Government are suffered by British subjects during the recent disturbances at Kiukiang. such losses will lie compensated by the Nationalist Government.

Referring to the Hankow agreement, a Nationalist Government communique says, inter alia, the policy of the Nationalist Government is not to use force to effect a change of status in any or all the concessions and international settlements. The Nationalist Government has laid down changes of status of the concessions and international settlements wherever situate in China, which are of such vital importance that no local Nationalist Government can negotiate with foreign powers concerned in respect of them.