The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1926. BRITISH POLICY IN CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1926, Page 12

The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1926. BRITISH POLICY IN CHINA.

i The_. situation in China with regard to foreigners and Christians has evidently become so acute that the question of intervention by the Powers concerned can only be further delayed at the risk of most serious consequences. According to a message, cabled from Shanghai, there is widespread regret that the British public does not realise the seriousness of the position, and that intervention is thus held up. The statement made in the House of Commons by the Foreign Minister (Sir Austen Chamberlain) “that all steps were being taken to protect the lives and interests of British subjects in China, but otherwise Great Britain was most loath to ! intervene in Chinese domestic af- : fairs,” appears to fall short of the requirements for putting an end to the acts of violence against foreigners and the revolutionary tactics of the Chinese and their allies, the Russian Communists. Just as it was in 1900, when the Boxer rebellion was responsible for horrible atrocities and the infliction of great suffering and a vast amount of damage, matters have been allowed' to drift until the rebels have become confident of their ability to plunder and destroy life and property at will and with impunity. The present hostile rising differs in several respects from that which marked the activities of the Boxers—a name that signifies “the fist of righteous harmony,” but the mainspring of the present outbreak is the same—“exterminate the foreigners.” There is also present in to-day ’g emergency that international jealousy which grievously delayed the necessary concentration of allied forces requisite to successfully combat the. menace, although Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Russia all contributed to the' somewhat feeble efforts which at first were made to overcome the rebels. Three. British brigades were later ordered up from India, a few French colonial regiments were despatched frosh Saigon, the Americans detached troops from the Philippines, the Russians sent a brigade from Port Arthur. The Germans and Italians made preparations to send out fresh contingents, the German force to consist ;of over twenty-thousand men. - But' the situation at Tientsen and Pekin demanded immediate action, just as it does now. Circumstances at the present time as regards the action of the Powers are vastly different. German help is out. of the question; French aid is virtually impossible; Italy is unlikely to take part; America holds aloof; Japan j is impoverished as the result of J her heavy misfortunes, and Russia, instead of being on the side of the allies, is taking an active part with the Chinese rebels in order to hit back at Britain, as well as to further the Communistic Sovietising of China. There is an understanding, which was confirmed at the Washington Conference on naval armaments, that no single Power shall have a preponderating influence in China.. That, of course, limits Britain 's scope of action to merely protecting as far as possible the security of her nationals, the same restriction applying to the other Powers . concerned. Unless, therefore, concerted action is taken, the present trouble is liable to grow and become intolerable. Britain .cannot be blamed for not doing more than endeavour to protect British and Empire subjects, or for not taking steps to put an’ end to the antiforeign boycott. Moreover, though Britain can and does protect her nationals at the treaty ports, it is virtually impossible to give protection to those who are in isolated places or inland. It is satisfactory to be assured by Sir Austen Chamberlain that there is no reason to suppose that the shipping facilities at Hankow’ are inadequate to evacuate British peo-l-ple, if necessary, and that the hav.al forces in the Far East are regarded as sufficient; also that the possibility of supplementing the present strength is under consideration. It may be taken for granted that British policy is being exercised in the direction of diplomacy and persuasion to bring the present troubles to an end. Unhappily the Bolshevik activities make this task extremely difficult, if not impossible. Britain alone cannot shoulder the burden and responsibility of using force to compel disorders in China to cease. It must be remembered there is no responsiblel Government in that country, and | it is out of the question to at-) tempt to coerce the Chinese and Reds by force of arms unless all) the Powers act in concert—which they refuse to do.

THE COLLIERY DISASTER. The disaster in the Dobson eoai mine, with its heavy death roll, will awaken sympathy throughout the Dominion. Considering the extent and nature 'of the mining ventures in this country, it has been singularly free from the eatastrophies which have afflicted other mining communities. Since the terrible explosion at the Brunner mine thirty years ago, there have-been no sueh serious explosions as that which happened at Dobson yesterday. - The best that "can be said of the tragic occurrence is that had it happened during daylight hours the toll of death and suffering might have been much heavier, and that, judging from what the rescue party found, it would seem probable that death egmo with merciful swiftness to those who were entombed in the mine. It is evident, also, that rescue work, swift, 1 efficient and voluntary, wss undertaken with the utter disroganl of personal risk, which is the British way. It is too early for the expression of any opinions as to the cause of the disaster, but the community will thoroughly endorse the promise of the Minister of Mines (Hon. .1. G. Anderson) that the fullest inquiry will bo made into all the circumstances surrounding the accident; As was to be expected, the sudden loss of so many breadwinners has brought the possibility of hardship, to their widows and children. Fortunately, so far as this' phase of the tragedy is concerned, help can still be rendered, and there is little doubt but that it will be forthcoming to a generous degree.