A BELLICOSE DICTATOR

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 292, 7 December 1923, Page 5

A BELLICOSE DICTATOR

SUN-VAT-SEN TALKS WAR. CASH AND PRINCIPLES. DIPLOMATS' WARNING. (By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright.)

(Received 11.30 a.m.) PEKING, December 6.

It is understood that foreign admirals are prepared to act vigorously if Dr. Sun-Yat-Scn interferes with the Customs, the maintenance of which is vital to foreign commerce and the payment of the foreign debt. Diplomats have already warned Dr. Sun-Vat-Sen that his claims are untenable. He hinted at an active alliance with Russia, and expressed his readiness to throw down the gauntlet to the foreign Powers. He declared the war situation wae excellent, but money was needed.

The Canton Government would not be able to shoulder the whole burden of the fight. The Hongkong correspondent of the "Times" interviewed Dr. Sun-Vat-Sen, who said that for the good of the Government he decided to seize the Canton Customs Tevenue. If the officials refused to surrender he would appoint others. Asked when he would act thus, he replied, "Probably in a few days." Aeked what about the nine British, French, American, and Japanese gunboats now at Canton, he replied that he did not hope to be able to overcome such an array of foreign might, but it would be an honour to be defeated by the combined Powers. He would then play his second card, hinting at Russian intervention. He was determined by any means to gain his objective, namely, a share of the Chinese revenue surplus, and argued that the Powers were reeponsible for the continuance of China s strife by morally and financially supporting "the Peking Government—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)