CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[BY TELECRArIl —PEII PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FRENCH ATTITUDE. LONDON, April 3. A Paris correspondent says unofficial reports indicate that M. Briand professed he was satisfied with France’s position in China, before the Foreign AfFairs Committee, on the ground that Fra ice’s policy of neutrality enabled her representatives to negotiate with anybody and everybody. He is repotted to have declared France refused the British imitation to participate in joint action and expressed satisfaction the French Government were not implicated in Nanking bombardment. BRITISH CLAIM. LONDON. April 2. Britons cannot be robbed, murdered or insulted with impunity, said Hon. Neville Chamberlain. speaking at Darlington. I hope the Cantonese who claim to rank among the nations, will he satisfied with the demand. There must be no denial for responsibility which all evidence proved rested on the Cantonese army. PEKIN, April 4. Chang Tso Lin’s headquarters officially announce the capture of Yenehong. a place about ninety miles down the Pokin-Hankow Railway, southward of Chengchow. it is understood that Chang Tso Lin does liot intend to advance further at present, in view of possible danger fo both bis flanks, but that lie will await developments near the Southern Shantung border. There the Nationalists are now advancing northward against Chang Tsung Chang. If the news regarding Yoncheng is true, it means that Chang Tso Lin has now got within two hundred miles of Hankow, and within one hundred miles of the Nationalist advance guard on Southern Honan. IN NORTH CHINA SHANGHAI. April 3. Among other indications of official concern regarding the possibility of disturbances North China, may be noted the action of the diplomatic corps in meeting to discuss policing and protection of the Legation quarter and the advisability of allowing the Chinese police to enter to search for suspected agitators. Americans in the hinterland of Pekin and Tientsin, have boon ordered to the coast. Many Anglo-Americans arc arriving from Shansi. The American legation is crowded daily by Americans obtaining passports, in order to join the general exodus, which is now in full swing.

PRIESTS PUT TO DEATH. PARIS. April 4. 'The French newspapers are giving prominence to the fate of two Jesuit priests, the Rev. Fathers Dulnus and Manama. It is officially announced that both Fathers have boon put to death at Nanking by the order of the Cantonese authorities. The bodies of the priests were mutilated after execution, and were left unburied for several days. A BLOCKADE PROPOSED. SHANGHAI. April 2. The foreign authorities at Pekin continue to be reticent regarding the result of the week’s discussions in connection with Nanking, but it is believed that if the Cantonese do not agree to the demands when presented a blockade of the south coast and Yangtze is likelier than actual warlike acts. AMERICA’S INTENTION. NEW' YORK, April I. The New York World’s "Washington correspondent states:—“Whatever demand tlie United States Government may make on the Cantonese Government. as the result, of the Nanking affair. they will be couched reasonably, with a view to ensuring compliance. The U.S.A. Administration is apparently disposed to make allowances for the disturbed conditions at the- time of the incident, namely, the withdrawal of the Northern forces and the subsequent taking of control by the Cantonese. The policy adopted by America will be one of firmness, followed by moderation, on the theory that mi extreme demand would lie useless, and would probably only aggravate the already tense situation

An effort will be made to impress the Cantonese authorities with the seriousness of the outbreaks against the foreigners and the representatives of the foreign Governments, which arc virtually attacks upon these Governments themselves.

AMERICAN DISTRUST. SHANGHAI. April 4. The American Chamber of Commerce here lias issued a statement as follows:—The repeated assurances hv the political factions that they can, and will, protect the life and property of foreigners are irreconcilable with • cent events leading to the necessity for the evacuation of the entire Yangtze Valley. The adoption of a conciliatory policy hv the foreign Governments is merely strengthening the law less elements, and it encourages outrages like that at Nanking. Of all the cities in the Yangtze Valiev, Shanghai alone is comparatively safe for foreigners. This is due entirely to the presence of the foreign warships and military. Tt is obvious that a protective policy as applying to Shanghai alone will not enable China to put her house in order, nor prevent enormous losses from the evacuation of the interior districts. We are convinced the future welfare of the Cliiue.se people, and the ultimate safely of the Americans and the other foreigners in China can lx? attained only by the unified action of the Powers to suppress the disorder and restore' conditions favourable to the formation of a responsible Government.

E.S.A. ATTITEDE. WASHINGTON, April 3. Simultaneously with the announcement that an additional fifteen hundred marines were being concentrated at San Diego, at the request of Admiral Williams, for possible service in China. Mr Kellogg has issued the following statement: The United States is taking steps to protect the lives and property of Americans in China. The evacuation of Americans has been advised bv the American Minister, only from such a region, as this Government cannot afford such protection. The United States Naval and Marino Forces have been supplied to the extent considered necessary by Admiral Williams. There has lx?en no order for evacuation at Shanghai. The American diplomatic and military representatives are fully co-operating with other foreign representatives, when faced with the joint problem, such as the protection of the lives and property of their nationals. Mr Kellogg and Sir Esine Howard conferred over the Chinese situation. They considered the most suitable course to he taken in connection with the Nanking incident, but their conference developed no fixed mode of procedure.

Officials here declare that they have not yet received from the British the Note embracing their demands against the Cantonese that is reported from London to have been forwarded here. Neither would the officials here state definitely whether the American Go-

vernment now favours joint action with Japan and Britain. Air Kellogg also called at White House and gave President Coolidge the latest Chinese advices. They discussed the Nanking incident at other angles, both giving the subject of an. 4 indemnification for the Nanking inci- i dents serious consideration, while Air Mac Murray and Admiral Williams are also studying it closely in China. JAPAN’S ATTITUDE. TOKTO, April 3. Despatches to Tokio from London state that Britain has proposed thero be a joint Britisb-Amcrican-Japaneso emergency operation against China, pending China’s settlement of awards of a joint investigating conference over the Nanking affair. The Japanese newspapers all advocate the avoidance of any course which would involve Japan in a demonstration. WAR DANGER IN PACIFIC. SHANGHAI. April 3. The pan-Pacific Labour Conference is to be held at Canton on Afay Ist. under the auspices of the Federation of General Labour Unions of China and the Federation of Australian Labour Unions. Invitations are lieing issued to Japan, India. Russia, United States, Afoxico, Corea, Philippnes. Indo-China. Canada and countries on the west coast of South America. ’flic Conference demands inter alia prevention of warfare in the Pacific, and a solution of the Pacific immigration problem, also joint defence against Imperialism. EUGENE CHEN’S VIEWS. (Received this day at. 9.30 a.i11.) LONDON, April 4. “Le Petit Parisien’s” Shanghai correspondent interviewed Chen, who said the revolution was not Communist though it was true Communists were collaborating with the Kuoniintang party. He did not fear Russian Communism. China would always welcome industrious capital from all European and American countries. The Nationalist Government would protect all economic enterprises.