CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[ilY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SHANGHAI STRIKE. * (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 31. The strike situation is mil much changed. The strikers number I Os.(100 mostly belonging to the cotton mills. If the postmen picket persist in preventing the inside .stuff of the post office working as they continue to do, it is expected that action of protest from those desiring to work will be taken.

CHINESE POSITION. SHANGHAI. February 33. An awkward situation has arisen ow

ing to the demand of Sum hunntnng’s / headquarters that a provisional Chinese court in tlie international settlement hand over fifty persons charged with assault on Saturday and Sunday to lie dealt with hv the military. The Chinese judge realising this would probably mean execution finally remanded the ease. If he decides to hand them oyer and the accused are executed, there is certain to he a .Nationalist outcry against the international settlement authorities, who are mostly British for arresting Chinese. Moreover, the knowledge that any Chinese whom they arrest for a comparatively minor offence may he executed, is creating a difficult problem for the British police. Four thousand employees of the largest publishing house in China, the Commercial Press, walked out. while Chinese papers arc suspended allegedly owing to the strike, but really because they fear their news and comments will incur the displeasure of the authorities on the one hand, and the strikers on the other. The strikers are somewhat subdued by the wholesale decapitations of the agitators or those suspected by Sunclmangfang’s officials in the native city, where there is a veritable reign of terror, dripping heads hanging from most of the gates. However, this is affecting the strikers more than the leaders who are mostly directing r,(Fairs from the settlement. It is estimated those executed are between 30 and one hundred. Refugees are crowding into the foreign' settlement. The latest information from the front is that Sunehuanfang’s army is definitely abandoning Kasliing line, and is falling back on Sungkiang. which means the evacuating of Chekiang. It is known there are dissentfons among Sun’s General’s and that the troops, though well paid, fed and equipped, have not a heart for fighting. Changtsungchang has not yet sent assistance. ft is reported he lias gone to Peking to confer with Cliangtsolin. Altogether the outlook for Sun is gloomy.

FRUITS OF AGREEMENT. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 21. It is learned from authorative quarters that the fruits of the Hankow agreement appeared in Northern’ and not Southern China. Britain throughout treated both claimant Chinese Governments alike. All her offers to reorganise a. basis of her relations with China were equally and simultaneously m ule to both Chen in the South and 'Wellington ICoo in the North. Therefore, throughout O’Malley’s negotiations with Chon exactly similar offers were made to the Northern Government. Hitherto Wellington Koo contented him.xelt with objecting to our negotiations with Chen, hut yesterday lie summoned Sir Miles Lampson intimating he was now ready to begin conversations on the Ij-isis of the British offer. These at present have not taken the form of concrete negotiations regarding a specific concession such as Tientsin. It will he left to Wellington Koo to choose the subject of preliminary discussions. This development can be properly attributed to Wellington Koo’s desire not to remain behind Chen in the conclusion of a reformed Ynglo-Chinese agreement, in accordance with the Chinese people’s legitimate demands that they be masters of their own household, and not. continue special privileges for foreigners should be remembered that Hankow agreement does not represent only a little local settlement. Official circles ’ point out the contract will be retnined with Cantonese for the discussion of details arising from the Hankow agreement, and do not conceal a genuine desire that it will show the wav to a peaceful settlement <>l all Anglo-Chinesc questions on aH >- e|al basis, with Cl.en Koo and anjone else who may establish a him authorative government in Ginna.

SHANGHAI SIGHTS. SHANGHAI, Fob. 27

It is impossible to drive outside the settlement or even on the settlement boundaries without seeing most revolting sights. Heads still bleeding are stuck on poles nailed to walls, or placed in small baskets like chicken coops. The exact Humber.executed is unavailable, because the military never make n report. They just: shoot and behead the agitator where lie stands, and leaves tho body for the relatives to find.