NANKING INCIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1928, Page 3

NANKING INCIDENT

LETTERS KXCH AN GET). (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, August 13. The text is issued of the letters exchanged between Sir Sydney Barton (British Consul-General at Shanghai) and Dr Wang (Nationalist Foreign Minister at Nanking) containing the terms of the settlement of the Nanking incident of March 24th, 1927. In a letter dated August 9th, Dr Wang conveyed, in the sincerest manner, profound regret at indemnity injuries inflicted upon the official representatives of the British Government, tlie loss of property sustained hv the British consulate and the personal injuries and material damage done to British residents. He said, although it has been found, after the investigation of the incident, that it was entirely instigated hv the Communists, prior to the establishment of a Nationalist Government at Nanking, the Nationalist Government, nevertheless, accepted the responsibility therefore and would like' to make restitution; also there would he no repetition. The Nationalist Government proposed, for this purpose, tlie institution of a Sino-Bri-ti.sli joint commission to verify actual injuries and damage and assess the amount of compensation.

Replying, Sir Sydney Barton accepted the statement of Dr Wang and in a further note expressed the hope that a new epoch would begin in diplomatic relations between China and Britain and suggested further that steps might be taken for the revision of the existing treaties anc\ the re-adjustment ot outstanding questions of the basis ol equality and mutual respect for territorial sovereignty.

Sir Sydney Barton replied: “The British Government recognise the essential justice of the Chinese claim to a treaty revision, and in their declaration of December IStli, 1926, and thenseven proposals of January 28tli, 1927, they made their policy abundantly clear, and have taken such practical steps as lay in their power to carry it. into effect, in order to give luithei expression to the friendly and sympathetic attitude which they have always maintained towards China. Iheßi itish Government are preapred in due course to enter into negotiations with the Nationalist Government, oil tlie subject of a treaty revision. The British Government do not intend to allow the Nankingcident to alter their previous attitude towards China, and prefer to consider it as an incident bearing no relation to their treaty revision policy. ______