IN CHINA NOW.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1928, Page 3

IN CHINA NOW.

THE NEW RECIME

' POSITION EXPLAINED IN HOUSE. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, June 27. Questions bearing on various phases of the situation in China were answered in Parliament by Sir Austen Chnmberi.dll. He stated that the representative of Dr. Wang Minister for Foreign Affairs, recently informed the British .Minister that there was a sharp divergence of opinion in Nationalist circles regarding the transfer of the capital from Peking to Nanking, and die question would he discussed at the plenary session of the Political Council, to be held in the middle of July.

Interested foreign representatives at Peking were closely watching the situation regarding the Chinese Postal Administration, in view of the curtailment of powers of the Freneh-Co-Diree-tor-Gonoral. The Pcking-Xanking Agreement of February 6th provided for the joint operation of the Northern and Southern sections under two Chinese Direetors-General at Peking and Nanking respectively. Protests were lodged by the Diplomatic Body against this breach of the Washington assurance of 1922, that the Chinese Government contemplated no change in postal administration so far as the foreign Co-Dircotor-General was concerned.

As iv result of recent- developments it: China it was now proposed that the post of Director-General at Poking ho abolished, and that postal affairs be controlled by tile Director-General at Nanking, involving the transfer of the Administration there.

The Senior Consul at Shanghai, on June loth, was notified that the Preside ill; of the Provisional Court had boon instructed by the Kiangsu Provincial Government to hand over the duties of his office to a new appointee. The dismissal of the President, being opposed by tlie Consular Body as a violation of the assurance annexed to the rendition agreement that judges would enjoy the immunities and securities n! tenure provided for hy Chinese law. IX MANCHURIA.

Questioned regarding the position in Munehtit in. Sir Austen Chamberlain said that on .June 20th. .Marshal Chang Tso-lin’s son. Cluing Hsue-hliang, took over the post of Chief Military Commander at Mukden, and Chang Tsolin died at midnight on Juno 20th. Apart from this there has been no change in the political situation in Manchuria. He was unaware of any threat to British commercial interests in that province, but developments were being closelv watched.

Orders had been issued by- the Nanking Salt Administration to its district: insopetors at lien-tsin and fit Cho-foo. directing that from June 3rd all payments issuable hy those officers lie temporarily deposited with the various Chinese banks, to be taken over liy an officer appointed by Nanking. Sir Austen Chr m’ evlain said that the orders eutirelv ignored the authority of the Foreign Assn; into C'hiet luspecMr. and were in complete disregard of the procedure laid down in the Reorganisation Loan Agreement, lor the fulfilment of obligations secured on the salt revenues.

The British .Minister at Peking had com oved a warning to the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Nanking ol the irregularity of Lins notion, and discussions between the Associate ( hid Inspector and Llie Nanking authorities were proceeding.