BRITISH AIMS IN CHINA

Wairarapa Age, 23 February 1927, Page 5

BRITISH AIMS IN CHINA

* POSITION REVIEWED. , STATEKIejn i BY FOREIGN MINISTER. THE AGREEMENT WITH CHEN. ~ (Received Tuesday, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, February 21. In the House of Commons, Sir Austen Chamberlain, replying to a aeries of questions relating to China, said that Britain’s aim was to negotiate treaties on a basis leading ultimately to complete equality and reciprocity. The new administrative body at Hankow would be modelled on the existing f one, and would consist both of Chinese and British, the Chinese having a casting vote. He had no definife news what arrangements the Pekin Government was making to collect Customs duties, but the Cantonese disputed Pekin's right to exercise authority belonging to the Central Government. Britain's recent proposals to China provided that Britons there would be liable to regular Chinese taxation not involving discrimination against British subjects anti goods. Dealing with the position in | and around .Shanghai, he said that lat- " cat reports showed that Sun Chuanfang’s troops were evacuating Hangchow. but at present there was no confirmation that the Cantonese had occupied that city. It was believed that Sun Chuan-fang intended to occupy a defensive position based on Hashing, fifty-five miles from Shanghai. A genral strike involving the Post Office and essential services and cotton mills began on February 19. The movement was reported to be spreading, but at present there was little disorder. He was satisfied that British lives and property would be sufficiently protected in all circumstances which could be considered within the bounds of possibility.

BIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION. In the latter part of his statement, ♦Sir Austen Chamberlain outlined the terms of the Hankow agreement. In reply to representations by Eugene Chen, Mr. O’Malley had stated that His Majesty’s Government could not bind itself to refuse to enter into negotiations with Chinese officials in any part of China in regard to matters arising in areas where such officials are actually exercising de facto authority. Sir Austen Chamberlain said he was not certain whether this was embodied in a letter or in a declaration. Chen earlier announced that the modification of the original plan for concentrating Mpi tish forces at Shanghai, announced by Sir A. Chamberlain was regarded by the Nationalist Government as a concession which made it possible to sign the Hanjow agreement. Chen added, 4 ‘But as this is without legal justification, the Nationalist Government protested against the landing and trespass of British troops at Shanghai, even for the strictly limited purpose stated by tsir A. Chamberlain." Chen further declared that the Hankow settlement was not intended to serve as a precedent for. the future status of any British or other concession. Sir Austen Chamberlain said he instructed Mr. O’Malley to make it clear to Chen that Britain reesrved full power to dispose of troops as may be necessary for the protection of British lives at Shanghai

OPPOSITION CONGRATULATIONS. Air. J. R. Clynes (Labour) thanked Sir Austen Chamberlain for his statement and welcomed the announcement that outstanding questions would be settled by negotiation. AT'. Lloyd George offered his warmest congratulations and asked whether negotiations had been opened either with Pekin or with local authorities in respect to the Shanghai Concession. Sir A. Chamberlain said that negotiations had ben opened with the Pekin Government to whom Sir M. Lampson had made a declaration similar to that made to Chen, at the same time reserving the right to negotiate with the de facto authorities in any part of China. We could not deal with the Shanghai International Settlement in the same way as we could with Concessions belonging to us. Mr. E. Thurtle (Labour) asked: "Will the Government suggest to other Powers that they appoint plenary representatives to consider what steps might be taken in case certain eventualities arise?" Sir A. Chamberlain replied: "The less said about eventualities which we hope may not arise the better."—(A. and N.Z.)

■* HANKOW AGREEMENT.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS. NATIONALIST COMMUNIQUE. SHANGHAI, February 21. The Chen-O’Malley Hankow Agreement provides for the dissolution of the British Municipality on March 15, whereupon the administration of the Concession area will be formally handed over to the new Chinese municipality. Meanwhile, the policing of the Concession and the management of pubk lie works and the sanitation will be ■ conducted by the Chinese authorities. The Nationalist Government wi|l set up a special Chinese Municipality, the administrative regulations of which wilxßje communicated to His Majesty's Minister by the Nationalist Minister of Foreign Affairs, the regulations remaining in force until the conclusion of negotiations for the amalgamation of the five Hankow concessions into one unified municipal district. In the agreement relative to the British concession at Kiukiang, the settlement is on similar lines as in the case of the Hankow concession; if any direct losses, due to the action or culpable negligence of the agents of the Nationalist Government have been suffered by British subjects during the recent disurbances at Kiukiang, such losses will be compensated by the Nationalist Government. Referring to the Hankow Agreement, the Nationalist Government, in a communique, says, inter alia, that the policy of the Nationalist Government i A.not to use force, or to countenance of force, to effect changes in the status of any or all of the concessions and international settlements.

cessions and international settlements, wherever situate in China, are of such vital national importance that no local Nationalist Government can negotiate with the foreign Powers concerned in respect thereof."—(A. and N.Z.). A FAILING DEFENCE. SUN’S ARMY FALLING TO PIECES. SHANGHAI, February 21. Refugees :*.re.‘ crowding into the foreign settlement. The latest information from ti c front is that Sun Chuanfang ’s army is definitely abandoning the Kashi ng line and falling back on Sungkiang, which means evacuating Chekiang. It is known that there are dissensions among Sun’s generals, and that the troops, though well-paid, fed, and equipped, have no heart for fighting. Chang Tsung-chang has net yet sent assistance. It is reported that he has gone to Pekin to confer with Chang Tso-lin. Altogether the outlook for Sun is gloomy.—(A. and N.Z.) DISPLAY OF HEADS. REIGN OF TERROR IN NATIVE CITY. SHANGHAI, February 21. The strikers are somewhat subdued by the wholesale decapitation of agitators or suspecteds by Sun Chuanfang’s officials in the Native City, where there is a veritable reign of ter ror, (tripping beads hanging from most * « the v:.les. However, this is alLcrrng the strikers more than their leaders, who are mostly directing affairs from the Settlement. Il is estimated that < :ecuted nu •!).»• between thirty and a hundred.—(A. and N.Z.)