CHEN’S APOLOGIES

Wairarapa Age, 2 March 1927, Page 5

CHEN’S APOLOGIES

FOR OUTRAGES AT HANKOW. ft REPARATION PROMISED. II ‘ STATEMENT BY SIR A. CHAMBERLAIN. RUGBY, Fesbruary 28. In the House of Commons, answering questions about China, Sir Austen Chamberlain said that some damage was done to the British War Memorial at Hankow on the over-running of the British Concession on January 4, and Mr Chen at once made profound apologies and undertook to effect the necessary repairs. He was informed that anti-British posters in English, addressed to British sailors, had been posted or distributed in Hankow. Mr. O’Malley would call the attention of Mr. Chen to any proceedings which were incompatible with the assurance given by him when the agreement was recently signed.—(British Official Wireless.) HANKOW PROPAGANDA. REFERENCE IN COMMONS. LONDON, February 28. Sir Austen Chamberlain, British Foreign Minister, in the House of Commons, answering a series of questions relating to China, said that anti-British posters in English, addressed to British sailors, had been posted up in Hankow. Mr. O’Malley would, doubtless, direct Mr. Chen’s attention to the fact that such proceedings were incompatible with the recently-signed agreement.

Negotiations in Pekin in reference to the municipal administration of various British concessions in Northern China had not advanced beyond general principles.

The latest advices from Shanghai stated that the general strike had collapsed, and the situation was quiet. British troops had taken up positioas outside the Concession, but not in tho Chinese city.—(A. aad N.Z.) MARINES AT SHANGHAI. MORE TROOPS EXPECTED SOON. RUGBY, February 28. Another thousand men were added today to the defence force already gathered at Shanghai to protect British nationals and property. They were a battalion of Royal Marines that left Portsmouth in the Minnesota on January 26, and are the first of our troops sent to China from England to arrive. The remainder of the forces are expected during the next few days, the Second Coldstream Guards being due on Wednesday, unless it is decided to delay them at Hongkong.—(British Official Wireless.) AMERICAN REINFORCEMENTS. PROTECTION OF SHIPPING. (Received Tuesday, 8.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 1. Five additional destroyers have been rushed to Shanghai from points in China and Manila, and will be added to the seven warships already stationed there. It is understood that the report Consul-General Lockhart at Hankow that shipping conditions on the Yangtse River are intolerable is responsible for the despatch of the additional vessel.—(A. and N.Z.) SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS CLOSED. (Receded Tuesday, 7 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 28. The authorities at Keinningfu closed the Y.M.C.A. and Chinese Red Cross rooms, and ordered the mission schools not to open so long as native schools remained closed. They also threatened to take over the Church Missionary schools.— (A. and N.Z.)