AN ANXIOUS TIME

Wairarapa Age, 10 February 1927, Page 5

AN ANXIOUS TIME

PROTECTING BRITISH LIVES IN CHINA. HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE. MR, BALDWIN’S POLICY. At the opening of Parliament, the King said that a sufficient force had been sent to the Far East to protect British and Indian subjects against mob violence and armed attack. Opening the Ad-dress-in-Reply, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald urged the House to do everything in its power to get negotiations resumed. Mr. Baldwin said that there could be no question of entering into an agreement with Chen or anyone else regarding the movement of troops despatched solely with the object of protecting British lives.

LONDON, February 8. In his Speech from the Throne at the opening, of Parliament, tho King made reference at some length to the situation in China. He said:— “The continuation of -civil war in China and the anti-foreign, particularly anti-British, agitation with which it has been accompanied have caused me great anxiety. In consequence of what happened at Hankow and other places my Government felt it necessary to> despatch to the Far East a sufficient force to protect the lives of my British and Indian subjects against mob violence and armed attack. But I earnestly desire a peaceful settlement of the difficulties which . have arisen, and my Government has caused proposals to be made to the Chinese authorities which should convince public opinion in China and throughout the world that it is the desire of the British people to remove all real grievances, renew our treaties on an equitable basis, and place our future relations with the Chinese people on a footing of friendship and goodwill. My Government will maintain our traditional policy of nan-interference in tho internal affairs of China.” OPPOSITION STRICTURES. Speaking in the debate on the Ad-dress-in-Reply, Mr. J. R. MacDonald, Leader of the Opposition, said we had created a new situation by sending out a defence force of soldiers to act as policemen. It might or it might not increase the security of the British people at Shanghai, but the first effect was to unite Pekin and Canton in protest. The only way to diminish the risk to our nationals was to get such arrangements under consideration as would make an outbreak of violence impossible. This might have been achieved had Chen been approached regarding a guarantee of security. The Government was playing with fire in sending troops. He urged the House to do everything in its power to get the negotiations resumed and then the forces could be diverted. Nothing could complicate foreign relations more than a breach with Russia. THE GOVERNMENT’S AIMS. Mr. Baldwin, in reply, announced that there would be a debate on China on Thursday. He doubted whether Mr MacDonald would have spoken as he did if he had been the responsible head of the Government, There were appearances in China to-day reminiscent of those preceding the Boxer (troubles. The danger was not only from the Shanghai mob. If bloodshed had begun at, Hankow, it might have resulted in Chinese troops fighting the mob, and there might easily have been a massacre.

“We have sent forces,’”Mr. Baldwin said, “which we were advised were necessary to defend our people in the International Concession if a combination should arise of a real struggle for the capture of the Concessions and the murder of the inhabitants on the part of the mob, together with troops from either the beaten or the victorious army coming into Shanghai. Our forces had been sent to the Far East to safeguard British lives in China, particularly in Shanghai. That was and is the Government’s only policy. The question of the time and the manner in which the troops should be landed at Shanghai must depend on the advice of our representatives on the spot. If they consider that the emergency requires the immediate disembarkation at Shanghai, we shall act accordingly. If not, the leading brigade will be held in readiness at Hongkong, while the rest of the force is approaching.” NO DEALING WITH SECTIONS. Mr. Baldwin continued: “There can bo no question of entering into an agreement with Chen or anyone else in connection with the movement of troops despatched solely with the object of protecting British lives. (Cheers.) We could not shorten the internal Chinese struggle -by entering into it ourselves. We must bo ready for the day when there will be a united Government of China by making the most generous advances simultaneously to both parties and by discussing what they could do to come together in order that when the internal struggles are ended we shall be able to enter into new friendly and propitious relations with that groat country.” (Cheers.) — (A. an 1 N.Z.) MARTIAL LAW AT ICHANG. (Received This Day, 1.5 a.m.) PEKIN, February 9. A naval wireless message states that martial law has been proclaimed at Ichang. All passing vessels are obliged to stop for military inspection. At Kiukiang there was considerable excitement. Crowds were seen running down the Bund and two platoons of bluejackets were landed to 1 investigate. They ascertained that a public execution of Northern spies was in progress, whereupon the bluejackets withdrew without incident. The second battalions of the Durhams and Gloucesters left Hongkong to-day for Shanghai—(Sydney “Sun”)