NANKING NEW CAPITAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 387, 22 June 1928, Page 9

NANKING NEW CAPITAL

China’s Change-Over

NAME OF PEKING CHANGED

Chang Tso-lin Really Dead

(United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) ( United Service) Reed. 10.45 a.m. SHANGHAI, Thursday. THE Northern leader, Marshal Chang Tso-lin is really dead, so it was announced to-day at Mukden, his demise dating from June 21.

The Nationalist Central Political Council announces a change in the name of Peking to “Peiping,” meaning “Northern Peace.” A statement has been issued at the northern city that its ancient art treasures and historic remains will remain the centre of culture, and worthily fill their place ill Chinese national life, but as the political capital of the republic, Peking is dead, and must give place to Nanking. The name of the province of Chihli is also changed to Hopei, meaning the province north of the Yellow River, while control of the Peking metropolitan area is degraded to the Chihli provincial control.

MENTION IN COMMONS

AN UNCERTAIN POSITION British Official Wireless Reed. noon. RUGBY, Thursday. Recent military and political developments in China were the subject of a statement by Sir Austen Chamberlain. In reply to a question in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary said Peking was taken over by the Shansi troops on June 8, General Yen’s chief-of-st'aff giving the foreign representatives the fullest assurance as to the maintenance of law and order. The position at Peking remained uncertain, as large numbers of Marshal Feng Yu-siang’s troops were quartered immediately to the south of the city, while on June 12, General Pai Chung-Hsi, a member of the Kwangai

group now controlling Hankow, arrived at the capital. The latest reports indicate that Marshal Feng’s troops are removing from the suburbs of Peking, and taking up a position some 30 miles or so further south, but his intentions remain obscure. Tientsin was taken over by the Shansi general on June 12. There was some looting in the Chinese city

on the part of the outgoing Northern troops, but order was speedily restored. The railway communication from Peking was interrupted for some days, but has now been reopened. Dr. Nang assumed office as Minister of Foreign Affairs at Nanking on June 14. Early in June, Chiang Kai-shek resigned his posts of Commander-in-Chief of the army and chairman of the Military Council, but latest reports indicate that he may withdraw his resignation. The Chinese charge d’ affaires in London has announced, under instructions from Nanking, that he will continue to represent China in this country.