CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1928, Page 1

CHINESE TROUBLE

VAST CHINESE CONTRACTS. Australian Tress Assn.— United Service LONDON, August 25. The “Daily Express” states. A powerful. British syndicate has been formed to reconstruct part of the warravages in China The Chinese Nationalist Government is about to sign contracts totalling fifteen millions sterling. The following are participating: Caimne! 1, Lairds, and .Tolm Brown, shipbuilders; Scottisli Lustrecn Coy, artificial silks; .Tolm Ellermans, shipowners; the Coats firm, sewing cottons; Wrigley Parkers, Yorkshire, wool-

•ens. . , . Another British syndicate is hemg formed to construct roads and railawys in the provinces of Chekiang and Kiangsu. The intermediary chosen by the Nationalists to carry out the negotiations leading to these contracts is Dr John Niud Smith, a Professor of English, who is known throughout China as John Smith. . During the past two years, the Chinese Nationalists, who are imbued with Western ideals of trading and mechanical efficiency, have sent emissiaries to discuss reconstruction with Ur Baldwin and Sir Austin Chamberlain (British Cabinet Ministers) who pointed out that diplomatic reasons prevented the British Government from directly concerning itself in these projects, and the scheme reached a deadlock till Professor Smith came to England, where, assisted by Sunfoo, the son of the late Dr Sun Yat Sen, he negotiated the formation of an Anglo Chinese trading alliance, which will he empowered to administer every phase of the Chinese reconstruction, and to finance aL the imports from Britain. It is believed that the stupendous operations of this alliance, including roads, railways, bridges, dockyards, and machinery, will ultimately enable Britain to re.sassume the commercialleadership of the world.