FIRMNESS AND RESTRAINT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 6, 29 March 1927, Page 1

FIRMNESS AND RESTRAINT

GREAT BRITAIN’S POLICY OF PEACE

TRUST IN NATIONALIST AUTHORITIES

Py Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 7.45 a.m. LONDON, Monday. In the House of Commons, Sir Austen Chamberlain, replying to Commander J. M. Kenworthy, said that the assessable value of land in the International Settlement at Shanghai was £42,195,5G2. Replying to Sir C. Kinloch-Smith, he made a lengthy statement concerning events in Nanking. He described how the Consul-Gen-eral, Mr. Giles, with the consular party and marines H.M.S. Emerald after suffering intolerable indignities. The total British casualties, according to the information available were: Killed: Dr. Smith and one sailor, and twe wounded. Continuing, Sir Austen Chamberlain said that there was not the least doubt that the timely communication with the warships and their immediate response alone saved the lives of the Britishers. The Americans looked to Chiang Kai Shek for a guarantee for protection, but the British forces were a guarantee on which they can safely rely, said Sir Austen, in the anarchial condition prevailing in China at the present time. It was impossible to ;ay whether they can rely with safety on these guarantees, and they must closely watch events and judge by performances and not professions.—Sun. STANDING TOGETHER FOREIGNERS IN CHINA NECESSARY FOR SAFETY Received 11 a.m. LONDON, Monday. A special Cabinet, hastily summoned this morning, led to sensational headings on the bills ot the evening newspapers. The Australian Press Association learns from official sources that, though China undoubtedly was considered, this does not connote increased gravity in the situation. On the other hand, official news shows that the situation everywhere is relieved. Cabinet’s main purpose as far as China is concerned was fully to inform the Ministers prior to Sir Austen Chamberlain's review of events in the House of Commons. The labour situation in Shanghai has improved, and the general strike is ended. The post office has reopened, and no serious disturbances occurred. The Anglo-American co-operation in the defence of the Settlement is complete. Similar arrangements are expected shortly with the authorities of the French Concession wh.ch is admittedly a rather weak spot. These samples of international cooperation are attributable to the horrible events in Nanking, emphasising the need of standing together, and to the long, graphic accounts of the lootings and murderings in Nanking. Some Chinese correspondents’ reports state that foreign communities in outing cities were being neglected, and are still faced with the rather exaggerated complaisance of official quarters, where it is emphasised that the troubles are always checked as soon as the Cantonese main force arrives in any city. . lie authorities appear most anxious to reiterate that incidents like Nanking do not provide a valid reason for modifying the British policy. The Admiralty to-night took the unusual course of requesting the Broadcasting Corporation to contradict rumours of a second bombardment of Nanking, which had been announced in the first news bulletin. —Sun. CONSULATES CLOSE AMERICA’S DECISION JAPAN ON THE ALERT Received 9.30 a.m. SHANGHAI, Monday. Mr. F. B. Kellogg, Secretary of State, has authorised the United States Legation to instruct the closing of the American Consulates at Changsha and Chingking, and the withdrawal of gunboats from there, as soon as soon as adequate opportunity is given for the remaining Americans to withdraw. Reports of the worsening conditions at Hankow are borne out by Japanese messages stating that Japanese women and children residing in the native city there are taking refuge in the Japanese Concession, and are preparing to board steamers. American women and children have already left, and the Japanese gunboat Adaka has gone to Hankow. Delayed messages from Hankow show that the labour unions there, as

Japan is threatening stern measures in China following the murder of her subjects in Nanking, although desiring to avoid an actual clash. This policy supports Great Britain’s attitude of firmness and restraint. The official view is that the Nationalist authorises are able to restore order on ee their jurisdiction is established. The Admiralty denies reports of a plan to bombard Nanking again. Marsha! Chiang Kai-shek, the Nationalist dictator, has announced his intention of marching on Peking. He denies that his troops were hostile to foreigners. In a statemetn made in the House of Commons, Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary, said that it was the immediate response of the warships that saved British lives at Nanking.

in Shanghai, are completely dominating the situation. A Tokio mesage states that two Japanese are now reported to have been killed in Nanking. The Govtroops, but has reinforced ships at all ports with marines, and lodged a protest, practically amounting to an ultimatum, with Nationalists. ThTe conservative element* officials, and newspapers are counselling moderation, with stern warnings that independent action may follow the disregard of Japan’s frequent warnings.—A. and N.Z. NOT HOSTILE NATIONALIST ATTITUDE DICTATOR’S STATEMENT LONDON, Monday. Marshal Chiang Kai Shek, in an interview at Shanghai, said he was sorry the warships had shelled Nanking, especially the American vessels, as it would do much to cause a misunderstanding of a serious nature among the Nationalists, who had thought the Americans were well disposed toward them. Nationalist troops had never been guilty of hostility against foreigners, but Northern propagandists used the old “dodge.” They dressed their troops in the Nationalist uniforms in order to discredit the Cantonese. ‘I have strictly forbidden our forces to loot,” said Chiang, “but your bombardment resulted in the loss of many Chinese lives and houses. No foreign houses were deliberately set on fire, nor was any foreigner killed by our forces.” “I am a military man. I am not concerned with the international settlement, but I have already issued mobilisation orders for an advance on Peking,” continued the Southern leader. “We have three lines of attack. The first by sea, via Shantung, the second via the Pukow-Tientsin railway, and the last through the Honan Province, with General Feng Yu-hsiang, who has 200,000 troops, including many Russians. “That is my programme. I will leave diplomatic work, such as negotiations about the international settlement, to Mr. Eugene Chen, Cantonese Foreign Minister.” —A. and N.Z.