CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[r.Y TEI.ECiKAI’H —PER I’IIESS ASSOCIATION’.]

A CHINESE RAID. PEKNG, April 7. Acting on a signed authorisation the Diplomatic Corps, a body of C'hungtsolin’s troops and armed police raided the Soviet Embnssny. One shot was heard, whereafter a Russian was dragged out, hound and carried off in a motor car. Hitherto six Russians and fifteen to twenty Chinese were motored to the police station. .Machine guns, fifteen rifles ami a quantity of ammunition was removed from the Embassy. It is uinlerstod that the Soviet Charge d’ Affairs and oiler officials were detained at their offices. Troops still occupy the building. CHINA DEBATE. ["Sydney Sun” Cables.]

(Received this day nt 10. Lu a.in.) LONDON. April f>. a in the Commons there was a crowded attendance when Mr MacDonald initiated the debate on Cliina. lie said no one could say what was going to happen. The despatch of a Shanghai defence force had undoubtedly increased our negotiating difficulties, without increasing protection for ISrifishers in Shanghai. It had also fed traditional Chinese suspicion, though lie believed this was without foundation. Not Shanghai, hut the whole of China was the immediate test of our policy. Nobody could say, before an inquiry, what had happened in Nanking therefore lie urged the Covernment to use the League method of inquiry. Personally, he was most glad that llritain, America, and Japan, to-day were presenting notes, not ultimata. There should he a clear statement that we still stood where we were at Christmas. If the League of Nations could make the Nanking inquiry it would do a tremendous lot of good, lie hoped Sir A. Chamberlain would not decline (lie use of the League. They should know what was in the mind of the War Office in sending out more , troops, and how far wo are acting alone in such matters. It is not m British interests, as the market for our trade was circumscribed and barred by prejudice. The Chinese had learned the power of boycott. Mr R. Mitehell-Tianks (Conservative) said Mr MacDonald’s speech recalled the proverb that “ In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man was king.” lie wished Air MacDonald could give some vision to his party, hut unfortunately his kingdom was governed, not from the throne, hut from the antechamber. Air MacDonald had said that revolutionary propaganda in the Last was based on history, hut Air AlitchcllBanks declared that the Independent Labour Party is busy preparing history upon which to base propaganda. If anybody spread suspicion it was I the Labour Party, by meetings and resolutions, and if there should lie a j disaster they would he its chief authors. If Sir A. Chamberlain had to defend himself it would he against passing the virtue of patience almost to a fault. After Air Wedgewood (Labour) had spoken there were loud cries for Sir A. Chamberlain. The Deputy-Speaker called on Sir 'Alfred • Mond, hut the interruption 1 continued. < Air Moseley shouted: “We are dc- i hating the Government policy without 1 hearing what it is.” * Sir A. Mond began amidst a chorus ■ *•* of Labour interruptions, and cries of. “Poison gas 1” The Speaker warned both ATr Purcell and Air Beckett, who consistently interrupted Aloud. < Sir A. Chamberlain, replying, said 1 that the whole eitv of Shanghai had ' been created by foreigners. Britain was ready to negotiate to meet the I Nationalist aspect and remove special i conditions rendered necessary by past I conditions, as soon as China could i give foreigners the same justice and security as Chinese obtained else- : where in the civilised world. Looting 1 in Nanking was unchecked to 4 th. < April. An officer in charge of the Na-,| : tionalists sent a warning that any < Britisher going ashore would lie shot. < Similar incidents occurred at .Che- i kiang, lehang and other places under 1 control of the, Nationalists. < AVliile Sir A. Chamberlain was reading a report on. lehang, ATr Wallhoad (Labour) interjected: “Tt sounds like a. students’ rag day.” This was followed by cries of, 1 “Order !” '

Sir A. Chamberlain asked : “AVliat interest do members serve by minimizing these outrages?” Mi* AVallhead : “Nothing I have heard justifies war.” Sir A. Chamberlain continued that Britain must, know the attitudes of responsible Chinese authorities towards the outrages. He believed all the Powers were in substantial agreement that it was necessary to require redress, hut ho did not want to speak too confidently. He knew an agreement hail been reached by the Ministers at Peking, but lie was not absolutely certain regarding the attitude of their Governments thereon. A!' indications were that Japan. 1 nited States and ourselves were not merely in agreement- on the matter of asking for reparations, hut regarding what reparations should he asked. Sir A. Chamberlain said the Nationalist authorities must understand the reputation as the Government and honour of China required them to give full satisfaction anil reparation. He read the British Vice-Consul’s report on outrages in Nanking and pointed out that looting was continuing there without Chinese authorities attempting to interfere. A similar state of affairs prevailed in the very place under Nationalists’ control, including looting and outrages in a hospital. These attacks are not confined to British subjects or interests. ’Tile most significant feature of the present debate was that Labouriteunmoved were again demanding the recall of the defence force. Did the Labourites desire to expose the British in Shanghai to the dangers realised? In Nanking the Government was pursuing a policy of conciliation adjustment to meet new Cliine.se aspirations.

Sii" A. Cliaherlain concluded amidst cheers: “But we are not-prepared to hustle out of China or withdraw our nationals from Shanghai and other pices, or to allow them to he treated as though the lives of our people were of no account.’’

Mr Lloyd George paid a tribute to courage with which Sir A. Chamberlain faced a difficult task and continued to pursue a policy specifically laid down a few months ago. Mr Trevolan said if we went to war against China we should probably do so alone and our trade would pass into the hands of Powers standing aloof. Labourites forced a division or\ the motion for ail adjournment of the debate which was defeated by 277 to 117.