CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) soviet Consuls. ORDERED OUT OF CHINA. SHANGHAI. Dec. 15. Koslovsky, Soviet Consul, has Ik'cii handed an official statement by the Nationalist Government, ordering the closing of all Soviet Consulates in Nationalist territory. The statement reads:—-“The Nationalist Government for some time has been informed I'l'oni various sources flint Soviet Consulates and Soviet State commercial agencies in areas within the jurisdiction of the Nationalists have Iteen used as the headquarters tor Red propaganda and an .xyVlum for Communists. the exposure of which has lies'll withheld. w,ilh a view to international" relations between China and Russia.” The mandate cites the Canton revolt and evidence of Russian connection with which, mainly attributed to the fact that Communists availed themselves of Soviet Consulate and commercial agencies as bases for operations-. It expresses' a fear of similar occurrences elsewheie. Koslovsky is requested to leave by the first available steamer. A time limit of ten days in fixed for closing all Soviet institutions.

Nationalist troops are already rounding up Communists in Chinese territory surrounding .Shanghai, and have raided several notorious institutions making wholesale arrests. Large caches of arms were nneartrhed.

A provisional court at Shanghai announced drastic new crime laws promulgated by the Nationalist Government, in order to meet the crime wave which has reached an unparallelled proportions in the city’s history in November and December. Ihe new code provided death penalty for sixteen separate offences, the inajoiity heretofore relegated as minor charges. The present code is more severe than in any western country.