CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE

[EY TEIiECIItAPIT—‘PER mtESS ASSOCIATION IX THE COMMONS. REPLIES TO QCKSTIONS. (Received lliis day at. 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, April I. In the Commons, Sir A. Chamboi lain said conditions in Nanking wer becoming normal as regards the Chit esc population, line tlie* attitude of tli Nationalists towards foreigners am

foreign property was increasing: ii trueulenec daily. Itrilisli steamers dc parting from Nanking; had been •subject c< I to heavy fire from the wntci fi'ont. Looting eontiniied. while thru civilians had been lei lied hy the bomhardmenf. It was impossible to ascertain the military casual tit's, hut they were confined soldv to troops engaged in attack. They wire estimated at six killcil and fifteen wounded. The property damage was inliuitisimal. Sev-enty-six liritish sliells were dropped in seventy minutes and a similar nuniher hy Americans.

In reply to questions. Sir A. Chamberlain said there was no evidence fixing the responsibility for the events in Nanking and elsewhere on China, hut anti-foreign feeling generally and antiBritish in particular was undoubtedly encouraged and stimulated from .Moscow.

Sir A. Chamberlain thought it incx pedient to take further action on hi Note or the Soviet reply at present.

Answering further questions Sir A. Chamberlain said he understood a Communist, Government had been established provisionally in those parts of Shanghai outside the settlement, but he was not clear on this point, though he had reason to ninlerstarul two Chinese Governments were more or less established I here. The liritish Government on ,‘iOth March extended advice to approximately two hundred Rritishers in every part of the interior of China to withdraw to a place of .safety. If they elected to disregard this advice- they did so at their own risk and responsibility. Though the situation in Jfnnkow was easier a futther crisis was anticipated, hence the steps taken to reduce the liritish community to a minimum. America was evacuating nationals immediately. Chnmberi'aiii declared when Chen said the Cantonese were not responsible for looting and murder, lie said what was contrary to established facts. Mr Lanshury asked whether a direct contradiction by Sir A. Chamberlain of Eugene Chen’s statements was not a good reason for the despatch of an independent mission to Nanking. Sir A. Chamberlain replied frigidly: “ 1 do not consider it part of ray duties, hut apparently you do. to disbelieve every liritish representative.''

HRITJSH OFFICIAL DEBT

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, April -1

Official circles admit that Britain, America and Japan are at present not agreed upm the dispatch of a joint note to Cantonese arising out of the Nanking outrages. The Australian Press Association understands the three Powers are agreed upon the necessity of serious demands for an apology and reparation, and even upon the nature of reparation, but Britain will not object to the presenting of identical notes instead of a joint nolo. The authorities further hint ut the probability of the Powers not being likely to intimate the nature of possible sanctions or reprisals in the event of non-compliance, probably reserving freedom, of joint or individual acton in this direction. Downing St. emphasizes that the decision to despatch a reinforcement is in no wise connected with the Nanking affair. They will take several weeks to reach China. They are being sent in consequence of the Shanghai defence force commander’s desire to have mobile .troops available for despatch to other parts of China, if. and when they are needed This can be taken as an intimation that the Cantonese northward sweep may ultimately necessitate the defence of British nationals and property in Peking and Tientsin. Official circles frankly admit they have no great faith in Chaiigtsolin’s ability permanently to cheek the Cantonese advance south of the Great Wall, but lie is regarded as well able to hold Manchuria whatever ’happens.

The latest news received I>v the Foreign Office shows there is r no sign of an abatement of the Cantonese hatred of foreigners. The most significant fact is that everywhere anti-British posters have been superseded by new ones inciting hostility to “foreign devils of everv nationality. 3 ’