POWERS UNITED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 7, 30 March 1927, Page 9

POWERS UNITED

No “Playing Off” in China EXTREMISTS WORRY NATIONALISTS The Chinese Nationalists are now confronted with a united bloc of international opinion, as an outcome of the outrages at Nanking, for which they are held directly responsible. It is recognised that there is a moderate element in the Nationalists, and the Powers await the suppression of extremism before expecting for any useful attempt to settle the problems. The situation in Shanghai remains unchanged and the defensive measures taken by Britain and other powers are proving adequate. In a statement, President Coolidge said that the American forces in China were doing police duty and were not there to wage war on anyone.

By C(i~blc.—Press Association.—Copyriptit Reed. 11.25 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. Reports received at the Foreign Office clearly prove that the Nanking outrages were the work of uniformed members of the Cantonese Army, acting on a prearranged plan, although the Cantonese commanders later quickly checked the disorder by warning looters that they would be executed. This command was not given until the commencement of the AngloAmerican naval barrage. Official circles emphatically deny the reports that the naval firing caused widespread damage and killed hundreds of Chinese men, women and children. They point out that the firing was carefully directed at the open spaces around the city, and the damage and casualties were quite small. The barrage was Imperative for the purpose of keeping off the Cantonese assaults until the foreigners were rescued. Official circles take a hopeful view of the situation. The Cantonese extremists are on the horns of a dilemma, because they realise that the Nanking outrages have consolidated, as nothing else could, all the foreign communities, who will ultimately negotiate with reference to the Shanghai Settlement. The Cantonese will, therefore, be unable, for instance, to play off Americans and Japanese against the British. The complete international co-operation such as Britain has sought from the beginning is not completely attained, but Nanking has produced, against the solidarity of the Cantonese, a contrary feeling against the Cantonese extremists. If they behave decently they will enable the moderates to obtain an advantageous agreement similar to that of Hankow. It is recognised that the moderates within a few months will become the dominant party, which will quickly shed the extremists and their Russian advisers. In the meantime the local consuls have advised the evacuation of Britishers from the whole of the Yangtse Valley, including Changsha, Chungking and Ichang.—Sun.

stationed, on a visit, lie wrote a poem entitled “Welcome,” which was printed in the “Cape Times.” The outcome of this was an invitation to meet Kipling at dinner in the City Club at Capetown. Wallace accepted the invitation, but was troubled as to the correct procedure at a dinner. A friend put him right with regard to the knives and forks, but failed him when lie inquired I about wine glasses. So he went to the dinner and drank everything that was offered him lest he should make a mistake. And as he honestly expresses It, he “went back to Simons Town that night rather tight.” As a result of the advice given him by Kipling, then and later, Wallace got his.discharge from the army, and embifrked on a literary career. Edgar Wallace was once editor of a South African paper, and in this connection he tells a good storOne day a certain small-part lady in a musical comedv. who had re ceived some unkindly notice from the paper's dramatic critic, walked into Wallace's office with a large whip and informed him that she was going to thrash him: The matter was tactfully smoothed over, however, and the pai’ went out to lunch together. On another occasion, the author was explaining to a friend —a man possessed of almost incredible innocence —the manner in which a torpedo worked. “How large is it?” inquired the friend, and when told, gasped. "Do you ever think," he demanded, “of the poor fellow who has to sit inside it and work it?”

AMERICA’S POSITION PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT FORCES ON POLICE DUTY By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Received 9.80 a.m. WASHINGTON, Tuesday. President Coolidge has announced that he considers the American forces now in China and on the way are adequate to protect American lives and property, hut he will be guided by the judgment of Admiral Williams and is prepared to send additional forces should the Admiral consider them necessary. The President wants it understood that American officers will retain control of the United States forces in China as no unified command of foreign affairs at Shanghai is contemplated. SHANGHAI QUIET THANKS TO BRITISH (British Official Wireless .) Reed. 10.50 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. The situation in Shanghai remains unchanged and the defensive measures taken by Great Britain and the other powers with interests in the International Settlement are proving adequate to maintain order. A message received from tile Shanghai Stock Exchange was posted in the London Stock Exchange yesterday, asking that grateful thanks be tendered to the British Government for sending troops, which alone prevented inevitable looting, incendiarism and massacre in the settlements. The “Times” emphasises the fact that if the defence force had not been on guard at the critical moment, the whole range of foreign interests in China would by this time haVe had no standing at all and isolated murder would have become wholesale massacre.. The immediate necessity is sheer physical defence. When the genuine Chinese organism emerges once more in an organised form, then will be the time to resume serious political negotiations.—A. and N.Z.