CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[by telegraph—per press association.] BRITISH LABOUR'S ATTITUDE. LONDON, March 8. In the House of Commons Captain King introduced a supplementary vote of £950.000 for the Shanghai defence force. He said that, within four days of the calling-up notices being issued, the first transport was eu route io China. . . Rt. Hon. J. 11. Clvnes complained that there had been misrepresentation of the Labour attitude regarding China. The Opposition’s view, lie said, was that the Government’s choice was one between far-seeing statesmanship and a dangerous and iutile use ol soldiers. The Government had reached the stage where they both wanted to show fight and to negotiate at the same time. Labour, lie said, was as ■any one in the safety of the British lives and property in China, but Labour believed that these special expeditions were, in the early stages of the Chinese negotiations, provocative and unnecessary, and that they obstructed the prospects of a settlement. Mr Clvnes denied tlfit Labour had ever sought to enter into any negotiations with the Chinese. He pointed out that Germany’s and Russia’s abandonment of their territory rights m China had not affected their trade. If as some suggested, British trade was on the decline in China on account of Russian agitation, then it was so much the worse if Britiaii’s reputation could not withstand Russians propaganda. , ■ , Mr Clvnes added that Hie Labour Party would oppose this vote of £950.000 as being unneecsary. as being provocative. and as being harmful. '1 he British Government, lie said had been striotlv impartial in China, but Mr Clvnes urged the recognition ol the Government of the Cantonese, because they were less militaristic, were moic democratic, and were inspired by higher ideals than were the other Chinese parties. , , , . Y[r Dalton said: ‘‘lt should be ou> recognised policy that those people who invest tlu-ir capital outside the empire do so at their own risk Sir L. 'Worthington Evans (War .ecretarv). in replying, said that nothing could be more worse than' to send an inadequate force to protect their people at Shanghai. The Government was advised that the steps that were taken were adequate, but were not excessive. The vote as carried by 303 votes to 12L