CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1928, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE

Australian Press Assn.—United Service

KEPT IN FILTHY CELL. SHANGHAI, July 7.

There is indignation among Britishers in Hongkong and Canton regarding the arrest and detention in a filthy cell all night long of a British merchant named Lillicrap, at Canton. The trouble arose over papers covering the importation of wines and spirits into Canton, the Chinese wino tax bureau officials -arresting the merchant and a clerk, and throwing them into a small cell with twenty-three Chinese criminals. They were incarcerated till the morning, when the British Consul secured their release. The Chinese Foreign Minister later expressed regrefe. A claim for compensation and punishment is pending.

JAPANESE STATEMENTS.

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m). TOKYO, July 7

Reliable information states Marsudaria will be appointed to London and be replaced at Washington by Debuchi (Foreign Vice-Minister). The authorities deny the vernacular reports detailing a decision to occupy Shantung until satisfaction is obtained for the Tsinan affair, and reiterates the intention to withdraw immediately on the restoration of order, which was delayed by disturbances continuing sporadically and uncontrolled. Plainclothes soldiers meanwhile are co-oper-ating with the authorities but they are insufficiently established to safeguaid lives-and properties. ,

CHINESE MANIFESTO. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, July 7. A joint meeting of the Central Kuomintang and Central Political Council of tlie Nationalist Government decided to issue a manifesto to foreign powers as follows :—First, all tieaties already expired are declared null. New treaties should he concluded on the basis of absolute equality and reciprocity. Second, All treaties still in force should lie revised according to legal, diplgmatic procedure. Third, A temporary agreement should be concluded where all treaties are expired and new treaties unconeludecL Nationals of such power should be treated similarly to now treaty power nationals. ■ Fourth, Foreigners residing in China should be treated equally with Chinese. Fifth, Pending the adopFion of a new) .Nationalist tariff the schedule on the present scale enforced at Shanghai. , The office of the Nationalist Foreign Ministry to-day handed the notes to Italian and Danish consular representatives requesting their home Governments to have their attention drawn to expiring treaties with the countries, and requesting new treaties on the basis of absolute equality and recrip-l-ocity. . .. - .

Tlie treaty question is causing uneasiness to foreign residents.