CHAOS IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1927, Page 3

CHAOS IN CHINA

METHODS OF EOLSHEVIKS. QUESTION OK INTERVENTION. AUCKLAND, Dec. IG. “The Russians are fomenting trouble in China in the most astute, unscrupulous and uncompromising manner that could he conceived.” This is the opinion of Mr E. S. Little, who has lived in China for many years and who is at present visiting Auckland. As a prominent business man and student of Chinese political and social affairs, Mr Little has an intimate knowledge of the present strife and Bolshevik intrigues. Describing the methods employed by the agents of Russia in China, Mr Little said scattered throughout the country were “ cells ” or small Bolshevik organisations, which had their tentacles in almost every public concern, including the schools. To gain their ends the agents used the most drastic means with the result that China today was undergoing a reign of unbelievable terror. Referring to the cabled reports relating to assassination of several tramway inspectors at Shanghai, Mr Little said this was typical of their methods. The agents probably called the tramway employees out on strike and because the inspectors resented it they were marked men and killed. SPECIAL FEE FOR MURDERS. “ Some of the Chinese are given revolvers and told off to kill certain people by a certain date,” Mr Lit! 1 said. “ When they have completed their work they return their revolvers to the Russian agents and are given Cl —a fee for the shooting. At least, that was the rate when [ was there a few months ago. It might have gone up slightly since.” Shanghai was the largest manufacturing centre in eastern Asia and its hundreds of mills employed thousands of people. If the employees were ordered by the agitators to come out on strike they dared not refuse, because the penalty they knew to be death. “ The Bolsheviks have gained a great grip on China,” added the visitor. “ They kidnap the families of tinChinese, dig up the ancestral graves and do everything to put fear into them. Their methods are drastic. They do not argue, hut kill.” PRESENCE OF BRITISH TROOPS.

Discussing the demand of the Nationalists’ Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, that British troops should be immediately withdrawn from Shanghai, Mr Little said such a demand counted for nothing. The Bolsheviks realised they had to get Great Britain out of China before they could secure a full grip. Not 1 per cent of the Chinese population was in favour of Bolshevism. The Bolsheviks had gained their ends by a feign of tearful terror. Several Chinese of repute had asked him why Great Britain did not step -a. There was no question that Great Britain should intervene, but be did 1101 think she should intervene alone. Tb situation would get very much worse ii foreign powers did not intervene. Internecine strife would go on indefinitely.