CHINESE WAR ZONE

Wairarapa Age, 7 February 1927, Page 5

CHINESE WAR ZONE

AN AMERICAN PROPOSAL. TO EXCLUDE SHANGHAI. ITALY ENDORSES BRITISH POLICY. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 5. The State Department confirms reports from China that the American Minister (Mr. Mac Murray) proposed to the warring Chinese factions that the Shanghai International Settlement should be excluded from the zone of military operations. The result of Mr MacMurray’s presentation of this plan to Chang Tso-lin has not yet been received. The Cantonese forces are understood to favour the American proposal, though no definite assurances have yet been given. The proposal is not technically a neutralisation plan because it does not specify guarantees for a zone nor provide for the evacuation of the Native City of Shanghai by the Conservative forces of Marshal Sun, the ally of Chang Tso-lin, but it is believed that the arrangement would lessen the danger to foreigners from the anticipated battle between the Conservatives and Nationalists.—(A. and N.Z.) AMERICAN PRECAUTIONS. CHINESE MINISTER’S INQUIRIES. WASHINGTON, February 4. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) With the announcement that ConsulGeneral Gauso at Shanghai, has advised all American women and children to withdraw- from China’s interior before the lines of communication are broken in the Shanghai district, and that Admiral Williams’s forces now- total sixty vessels, ten thousand bluejackets and three thousand five hundred marines, it became known that the Chinese Minister Sze had inquired of the State Department the purpose of the movement of additional America forces to Chinese waters. It is understood he was informed that the steps were precautionary and that there was no intent to make a landing unless it became necessary to protect Americans. It is reported that Sze wished to inform his Government of the situation and possibly anticipated any protest that might be made.—(A. and N.Z) “CHEN IN CENSORING” A CORRESPONDENT’S PROTEST. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 4. The/‘Morning Post’s” Hankow correspondent says: “Chen is censoring my cables extensively I protest strongly. He dislikes the inforamtion I have forwarded.”— (A., and N.Z.) SUPPORT FOB BRITAIN. ITALIAN GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE.

. ROME, February 4. It is reported that Italy has sent a Note to the British Government endorsing the latter’s Chinese policy of maintaining the rights of the Powers to defend theie interests in China.— (A and N.Z.) BITTER FEELING IN FRANCE. FEARS OF ISOLATION. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, February 5. The possibility of Italy joining Britain in military precautions in China is being widely discussed in the Press. Leftist organs comment bitterly on the prospect. “Pertinax,” in the “Echo de Paris,” says the defence of Shanghai is natural enough, “but France’s abstention may lead to her isolation in Europe. Signor Mussolini, who never risks much, has promptly assured Sir Ronald Graham (British Ambassador) df Italy’s co-operation. He is profiting from events with the purpose of obtaining an agreement as to what part of the Mediterranean his note of hand may.be cashed in.”—(A. and N.Z.) NEW NEGOTIATIONS. A SUGGESTED COMPROMISE. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) PEKIN, February 5. Advices from Hankow state that Britain will soon begin fresh overtures for the resumption of Mr. O’Malley’s negotiation.* upon the understanding of the British cancelling the despatch of troops to .Shanghai upon the Nationalist Government guaranteeing British lives and property in the event of the capture of Shanghai.

The British. Minister at Pekin has protested 'against the dismissal of Sir Francis Aglen, head of the Maritime Customs, without avail. —(A. and N.Z.) COMPLICATIONS BEARED. DIVIDED COUNSELS AT TOKIO. TOKIO, February 4. The Foreign Office is now considering tlie Pekin Government’s draft treaty, in which China frankly sets out her desires regarding future relations. It is understood that the Government regards the draft as wholly negotiable. China’s proposals are drastic; nevertheless, there is reason to believe that they will generally be acceptable..' The final decision depends on the outcome of the Anglo-Chinese situation. Well-informed circles now fear complications at Shanghai, pointing out the simultaneous united China protests from Pekin, Shanghai and Hankow against the invasion of tho Btitish defence forces. Notwithstanding the proBritish movement in the Upper House, which seeks active naval and military cooperation with Britain, the'Government’s position is adamantly maintained. — (A. and N.Z.) BLOW AT JAPAN. PROPOSED SEIZURE OF IRON MINE'. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, February 5. It is reported that the Chinese Nationalists are planning to seize the Han-yoh-ping iron mine above' Hankow. This is vastly worrying tho Japanese, who see therein the first heavy antiJapanese blow. This mine is practically the sole source of pig iron for Japan’s Government steel plants, wherein

hundreds of millions are invested. Japan’s interest in tho mine is safeguarded by a treaty forming an important part of those interests in China which Baron Shidehara has declared Japan must protect.—(A. and N.Z.) THE SOVIET AND CHINA. LITVINOFF ’S IMPERTENENCE. (Received Sundav, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 4. An agitation by a section of the Press in England in favour of the abrogation of tho Anglo-Russian trade agreement is apparently causing some uneasiness in Moscow, judging by a lengthy statement made by the ActingForeign Commissary Litvinoff, transmitted from Moscow. Reviewing the situation in China, Litvinoff professed regret that the coupling of peace negotiations with threats of intimidation and military intervention had caused the British Conservatives to try to shift their own mistake on to the shoulders of the Soviet Government by ridiculous legends that the Chinese Nationalist movement was due to the machinations of Soviet agents. The Soviet Government sympathised with the Chinese liberative movement, but it in nowise followed that it recommended the Canton Government to strain its relations with Britain, or that it should stand in the way of peaceful agreement with Britain. Litvinoff declared that the Soviet Government never forgot its obligations under tho Anglo-Russian Treaty of 1921. The straining of Anglo-Russia relations would be a blow to the interests, not only of the whole of Britain, but also of the interests of the very financial and industrial groups which were now most loudly demanding a rupture of relations.—(A. and N.Z.)

BRITISH LABOUR COUNCIL. ITS MESSAGE TO CHEN. LONDON, February 4. The National Joint Labour Council has telegraphed to Eugene, Chen, expressing gratification at his assurance that theii message had enabled a continuation of negotiations, which the Labour Party firmly supports, and hopes that the parties concerned will make possible a settlement.—(A. and N.Z.) BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. BREAK NOT INTENDED AT PRESENT. (Received Sunday, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 6. Cabinet spent tho week-end in close touch with Sir M. Lampson and Mr. O’Malley, and important decisions regarding the disposal of British defence troops are expected early in the week. The “Observer’s” diplomatic correspondent says that so far as tho British Government is concerned, the chief policy is to liberate China from an obsolete system of virtual foreign, supervision and control, and secondly to protect life in the transition stage. Any step on the part of the Canton or Shanghai Governments towards assuring the safety of foreigners in Shanghai would bo welcomed. There is no present intention of breaking off’relations with Russia, in spite of the undoubted part she has played in stirring up anti-British feeling, but the question of dealing in some other way with the persistent hostility of Moscow is engaging Cabinet ’f attention. It is understood that while Cabinet docs not contemplate breaking off commercial relations with Russia, it may be embarrassed in Parliament next week when a hundred and twenty Conservatives threaten to raise the Russian issue and demand tho withdrawal of privileges. Cabinet considered a proposal to divert the troopships to Hongkong, but tho Australian Press Association gathers that it is improbable an immediate decision will be reached on this point, because the transports have only left Gibraltar, so their destination need not be finally decreed for ai least a fortnight. It is not a matter'easily decided, because the consideration has arisen that the diversion of troops may be wrongly interpreted and may be hailed as a further blow at British prestige in the Far East but a stronger consideration is whether Chon is in a position, -after what has happened at Hankow, to guarantee the fulfilment of his pledge that no harm shall befal foreign nationals in Shanghai, and thus obviate the need for providing a barrier between the mob’s excesses and British nationals.—(A. and N.Z.) GLOOMY REPORTS. AGITATORS FLOCKING TO SHANGHAI. (Reecivcd Sunday, 11.5 p.m) TOKIO, February 5. •Acting on information of which tho public is ignorant, the. Admiralty has ordered the cruised Tenryu, with three hundred marines on board, to proceed to Sasebo and, with four destroyers there, be in readiness to go on to Shanghai at the shortest notice. Japanese correspondents in China are sending' gloomy reports of the situation both in Pekin and Hankow. The Navy Department reports a probable schism in the Cantonese ranks, with the extremists taking control. Other reports state that agitators arc flocking to Shanghai to precipitate trouble.—(Sydney “Sun.”)