CHINESE SITUATION.

Southland Times, Issue 20082, 20 January 1927, Page 5

CHINESE SITUATION.

Naval Concentration. CHEN SPEAKS OUT. Concessions Demanded. BRITAIN PROMISES PROTECTION Chen-Chung-mmg in an outspoken despatch, demands the return of the concessions in the interests of Chinese nationalist aspirations. The concentration of the British Fleet in Chinese waters, and a Ministerial statement that British lives and interests will be fully protected, promise a stiffening of attitude on the part of Britain. (By Telegraph—Press A®n. —Copyright.)

MARINES IN READINESS. CHEN STATES NATIONALIST VIEWS. (Rec. 7.15 pm.) London, January 18. One thousand marines at Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth depots are ready to proceed to China, and may sail next week. It is officially emphasised that the despatch of these, if they go, does not indicate offensive measures but is simply a precautionary measure against rioting, and for the defence of British life and property. The despatch of cruisers is similarly intended. The Daily Express publishes a special despatch from Chen, in which, describing the recent events in Hankow, he charges the British with bayoneting several Chinese forming part of the loyal crowd on the boundary of the British concession. He also gives details of the events which led to the Chinese Municipal commission taking charge of affaire, and goes on to say that: 'Britain in the first place subjected China to political and economic control of the worst, typical features of which were expressed in the British control of Chinese customs, extra territoriality of alien administered settlements, and other limitations of Chinese sovereignty contained in unequal treaties. A country so controlled that it was fettered was obviously not independent. Chinese nationalism therefore demands the handing back of the lost independence of China. Our terms are the cancellation of unequal treaties upon which a regime of foreign imperialism in China is based. The situation arising out of the new status quo in the Concession is not only profoundly significant as an act in history, but it is a direct summons to British statesmanship to take the lead in recognising the justice of the Nationalist demand for Chinese independence, and to proceed to redress a great historic wrong. I categorically repudiate the suggestion that British humiliation is desired by us. We demand a settlement of the question of the Concession, which shall not deny its effective re-incorporation within the Chinese territorial system, subject to Nationalist recognition of the validity of all property rights of British nationals in the Concession.” —A. and N.Z. VIOLENTLY ANTI-BRITISH. Shanghai, January 18. Chen, despite his birth in the British poßfysrion, has long been violently antiBritish. He voiced pro-German views as the correspondent of a Pekin newspaper in war-time and subsequently edited the People’s Tribune in Pekin. He vilified the British as murderers, robbers and liars. He went to Canton after imprisonment for falsely reporting Chang-Tso-Lin’s death and speedily became Prime Minister. Despite the evacuation order missionaries, men. women, and children, are staying at Chengtu. The Consul and Vice-Consul are leaving on January 21. Only six women remain at Chungking. FORBEARANCE NOT WEAKNESS. (Rec. 8.20 pun.) London, January 18. “The Government’s policy regarding China is unchanged and is still based on the memorandum to China,” said the AttorneyGeneral, Sir Douglas Hogg, in his speech in London. ‘lf the invitation we have offered is accepted, the Chinese authorities will not find us either ungenerous or unreasonable, but if they should be encouraged by our forbearance at Hankow into the belief that Bimiiar events can be repeated at Shanghai or elsewhere, then it is the Government’s paramount duty to see that British lives and property are protected.—Sun Cable. BRITISH NATIONALS. PROTECTION WILL BE GIVEN. (Rec. 820 p.m.) London, January 19. M Briand and Earl Crewe discussed the Chmese situation at length in Paris yesterday. M. Briand said that France was prepared to co-operate with the British for the defence of lives and property in Shanghai. Sir Douglas Hogg, Attorney-General, speaking in the East End, declared that the Government’s paramount duty was to s« that the liberties of our people in China were protected. Personally he hoped we might

'be able to negotiate an honourable understanding, but we must be prepared to face the alternative. There were in Shanghai alone some sixteen hundred British subjects, and many millions of pounds worth of British property, and if the Chinese authorities refused to safeguard their lives, it became the duty of the Government to protect the interests themselves. It was obvious that such a decision would involve possibly grave consequences. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says: “It is realised in Government circles that preparations for coping with any grave emergencies must be made in good time, whether naval, military, or aerial. If any Power is not conscious of its responsibilities, or unwilling to shoulder them, Britain, it is asserted, will certainly shoulder her share.” When the first cruiser squadron arrives in China, the strength will be brought up to thirteen cruisers with an aircraft carrier, eight destroyers, and other units. Nearly one half of the cruisers in full commission will be concentrated in Chinese waters, and the number of naval ratings will exceed ten thousand.—A. and N.Z. JAPAN’S FOREIGN POLICY. Tokio, January 18. Japan’s China policy, announced in the Foreign Minister’s speech in the Diet, involves strict protection of Japan’s legal rights in China, which are unabridgeable and unmodifiable. Conceding this, the Chinese may fight long in the desire to establish such forms of Government as seems best to themselves. Any form of foreign intervention seeking to impose any foreign-made plan upon the Chinese is bound to fail. Japan is agreeable to the collection of surtaxes provided the spirit of the Washington Treaty is carried out and provided adequate provision is made to reasonably assure that the additional revenues will not go to civil war or the private use of any faction. Provided such guarantees are given, the resumption of the Customs Conference is desirable at which Japan would welcome responsible representatives both north and south within the Chinese delegation. Baron Shidehara denied the possibility of a Russo-Japanese clash in Manchuria where the Soviet policy is one of trade only, the same as Japan. He regrets America has not adjusted the question of immigration discrimination, but is glad a true understanding of Japan’s pacificism is growing among Americans. The Premier, in a speech, says Japan’s naval plans will only prevent a diminution of strength below the factor of safety while the matter of reduction of the conscript term will be pushed.—A. and N.Z. THE TIENTSIN CONCESSION. Pekin, January 18. Regarding the Belgian offer to hand over the Tientsin Concession, it is interesting to note that the China year book for 1926 gives its population as: Foreigners nil, Chinese population two thousand. * The territory is thus infinitesimal and the Belgian action is merely a friendly gesture.—A. and'N.Z. NAVAL MOVEMENTS. (Rec. 8.5 pm.) London, January 18. The warship Dauntless rejoins her squadron. The hospital ship Maine, at present in dock, will proceed to China shortly.—A. and NJZ. CRUISER SQUADRON SAILS FOR CHINA, Malta, January 18. The Cruiser Squadron, with the exception o fthe Damtiere, sails for China tomorrow. MARINES FOR CHINA. TRANSPORT BEING PREPARED. London, January 18. The Evening News states that the Admiralty has chartered transport to convey all available marines to China, the first transport sailing from Portsmouth on the 21st.—A. and N.Z.