HANKOW NEGOTIATIONS

Wairarapa Age, 17 February 1927, Page 5

HANKOW NEGOTIATIONS

BREAKDOWN DENIED. BUT SERIOUS HITCH REPORTED. NATIONAL RETICENCE. SHANGHAI, February 15. Negotiations for the settlement of the dispute between China and Britain have again broken down at the eleventh hour. After what was believed to be the final conference the agreement remained unsigned. The Nationalist Foreign Office stated that it had nothing to say, hut that does not mean there is trouble. A statement has not been

issued by Mr. O’Malley. The Associated Press telegraphs that upon being asked whether the negotiations had broken down, as reported, Mr. Chen, categorically denied this, He declared that he had made an important statement to Mr. O’Malley indicating that the Nationalist Government considered that the modifications in the original plan for the concentration of British forces at Shanghai, as announced by Sir Austen Chamberlain in the House of Commons on February 10, made it possible for the negotiations to be completed regarding the concession question.

Despite the foregoing statement it is firmly believed that a serious hitch has occurred which is likely to- prevent the signing of the agreement.—(A. and N.Z.).

THE OFFICIAL VIEW. “NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY. (Received Wednesday, 6.50 pmi.) LONDON, February 16. The Foreign Office, at a late hour last night was still without news from China and can. neither confirm nor deny the reported rupture at Hankow. Neither can it explain Tne absence of official news nor say whether the silence is due to some form of Chinese censorship, or whether the alleged breakdown is only temporary and has been wrongly interpreted by the Press Agencies in China as a definite rupture. Official circles find therein no cause for anxiety. It is pointed out that many temporary set-backs may be expected amidst the present chaotic conditions. AUSTRIAN-GERMAN CANARDS. A section, of the Austrian-German Press is giving an anti-British colouring to news from China, alleging that Australia and South Africa disavow the English policy in China, while Canada refuses to allow'" British troops to cross her territory to proceed to China. —(A. and N.Z.) BED REVENGE. DEFENDERS OF WUCHANG IN THE DOCK. SHANGHAI, February 15. An amazing trial, which could only happen in China, is taking place at Wuchang, the city which was besieged for forty days in October. The antired responsible for the resistance, are charged with defending the city against the Cantonese army. The judges, fourteen Nationalist appointees, include women from the women’s political branch of the Kuomingtang party and assorted union delegates. The prosecutor announced that he was representing the people of Wuchang, who were forced to suffer by military resistance and in their starvation ate animals, trees, and babies, and \vhose homes were burnt. Other charges were of fighting the revolutionaries; secondly, killing members of the people’s army; thirdly, opposing the revolution.

In cross-examination two generals strenuously attempted to collect an admission that British gunboats assisted the anti-reds, but the defendants denied this. A consensus of judges called for the death penalty. The trial was merely a formality.—(A. and N.Z.) “A NEW SITUATION.” MR. O’MALLEY AND EUGENE CHEN. (Received Wednesday, 10.25 p.m.) PEKIN, February 16. Mr. O’Malley stated that Eugene Chen made a series of statements, partly referring to Sir A. Chamberlain’s speech, partly about the agreement, and partly about assurances. The effect of these statements was to create a new situation. Mr. O’Malley said that the agreement was not signed because he thought it necessary to put the fresh situation before Sir A. Chamberlain in order to enable the latter to decide what should be done about an agreement. Meanwhile, Mr. O’Malley will remain at Hankow and await further instructions. —(A. and N.Z.) BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS. (Received Wednesday, 10.25 p.m.) PEKIN/ February 16. The British defence troops were reinforced by two Punjabi battalions from India, which arrived at Shanghai overnight. There are now five battalions encamped in the International Settlement.—(A .and N.Z.) “AGAINST A WALL.” MINISTER. ON SOCIALIST THREATS. (Received Wednesday, 6.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 15. The Postmaster-General (Sir W. Mitchell Thomson) speaking at Croydon, said that certain Socialist leaders were reported to have said that if Britain were involved in a Chinese war, they would do their best to prevent British troops from being assembled. “If they do that,” he said, “they will end up. and very properly too, against a wall, with a firing party in front of them. It is just as well they should know that right from the start.”•— (A. and N.Z.)