BRITISH PROTESTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 17 August 1937, Page 7

BRITISH PROTESTS.

i/EVACUATION OF NATIONALS,

(British Official Wireless.) Rcccievd August 17, 11.57 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 16,

The grave situation in China is under constant and anxious review in London. As the result of a contorence held at the Foreign Office it has been decided that a very large number of British nationals, who with 2500 British Indians number 9000, should be evacuated as soon as possible from Shanghai. . , , Strong representations have been made to the Chinese Government regarding the Chinese bombing from the air of the International Settlement and urgently requesting the cessation of such action. In presenting the protests on behalf of his Government regarding the bombing of tile flagship Cumberland, the British Ambassador stated that though it was doubtless inadvertent it afforded an added illustration of the terrible danger of this air activity. The Chinese Foreign Minister called on the British Ambassador in Nanking on Saturday morning to express on behalf of General Cliiang Kai-shek his deep regret for tho dropping of the bombs on the International Settlement, which, it was explained, was unintentional. . . To-day’s news from Shanghai, which includes the arrival there of the Second Battalion of Boval Welsh Fusiliers from Hong Kong, shows no diminution of the tension. In the meantime, there is no relaxation of the efforts on the part of the British Government to remove, the present threat to the safety of Shanghai. The developments of Saturday and yesterday are deeply regretted by the British Government. On Friday instructions were sent to Sir H. Knatchbull Hugessen, Britisli Ambassador in China, and Mr Dodds, Britisli Charge d’Affaires in Tokio, to express in the strongest terms to the two Governments the folly of allowing a situation to arise from which their own interests in the great commercial centre of Shanghai, no less than the interests of the other Governments, might suffer serious damage, and the necessity for precautions against action by their armed forces which might imperil the safety of the International Settlement. The British Government lias throughout been in close touch with the other interested Governments. It is not expected that warships will be used for the evacuation of British subjects from Shanghai. Arrangements are being made by the British naval and military authorities on tho spot. SHANGHAI CITY.

'Shanghai lias a population of 3,550,000. It is- the most important seaport of Central China and stands on an affluent of the Yangtse River, 12 miles from its mouth. On tile north of the Chinese city the French and English Settlements, with broad streets and handsome 1 houses, stretch northwards parallel with the river. The approximate populations of the various Settlements are as follow: International 1,148.821 (foreigners 48.32. J, Chinese 1.100,496). French Concession, 498 199 (foreigners 18,899, Chinese 479,294). Shanghai City, Chanei and Nai'itao (surrounding these settlements) 1,902,762 (foreign 10,474, Chinese 1,892,288).