MISSING BRITISHER

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1931, Page 6

MISSING BRITISHER

the thorburn case. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 29 Sir M. Lampson, British Minister iji China, arrived in Nanking yesterday, by air, for the purpose M impressing vpon the Chinese Government the grave view which the British Cloven ment takes of the disappearance of John Thorburn, who was arrested ny the Chinese Military Police on June 3rd, and who was alive in their custody on June 11th. “The Times” says:—“ r Jhe Thorbum case is tli e plainest ot many recent warnings of the necessity o! .caution in an abandonment of our ex fra territorial jurisdiction in China. 'There is no need for sj- “Diehard” attitude. The present system contains many defects and pit falls, which should be swept away; but in the treaty ports, especially Shanghai, there is a "nucleus of stability which is far too important a factor in the orderly progress of China to be jeopardised b.v a Government that is unable, or unwilling, to compel its own servant*? to respect the law, or even to call them to account when they have flagrantly broken it, Questioned in the House of Commons regarding the disappearance of John Thor born, Dr. Dalton (Under-Secre-ary for Foreign Affairs), said Sir M. Lampson had left Pekin yesterday by aeroplane for Nanking with the object of delivering the message of the British Government personally to Marshal Cliiang Kai Shek. No report was expected for some days, in view of the fact that Marshall Cniaug is at present conducting a military operation in the province of Kiangsi. In the message which Sir M. Lampson had been instructed to convey, the Chinese Government was urged with all expedition ■to find means of persuading the military authorities in whoso hands Thorburn is believed to he of the urgent necessity of enabling the Chinese Government to carry out- tlie ordinary obligations of a civilised state. Dr. ’ Dalton stated that six British subjects had died in captivity in China during the past three years.