BRITAIN'S AIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 9

BRITAIN'S AIM.

THE CHINA POLICY. Basis of Complete Equality and Reciprocity. j MINISTER'S STATEMENT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.! LONDON, February 22. j In the House of Commons. Sir ! Austen Chamberlain replied to a ■ series of questions regarding China, and once more outlined Britain's policy. I The Minister said the aim of Britain j was to negotiate treaties on a basis which would ultimately lead to com- , plete equality and reciprocity. j The new administrative body at Han- > kow would be modelled on the existing one. It would consist both of Chinese and British representatives. The Chinese would have the casting vote. In this respect it would be a similar body to that at Kiu-kiang. Sir Austen said he had no definite news as to what arrangements the Peking Government was making to collect customs duties, but the Cantonese Government disputed the right of the Peking Government to exercise authority which it claimed belonged to the central Government. | Britain's recent proposals to China ' had provided that British subjects in i that country would be liable to regular [ Chinese taxation, not involving discrimination against British subjects and goods, as was in fact imposed upon throughout China. i Hankow Settlement. j In a later statement Sir Austen out- | lined the terms of the Hankow agreement. Mr. O'Malley had assured Mr. Chen that Britain would do all in her power to complement and assure the successful operation of the scheme, adding that so far as the British authorities were concerned Chinese citizens would enjoy the same rights as British subjects in the area. I Mr. Chen replied saying the Chinese ! authorities for their part would do the same, and there would be no discrimination against British interests in the dis- : trict. Dealing with the position in and : around Shanghai, the Minister said the latest reports showed that Marshal Sun Chuan-fang's troops were evacuating Hangchow, but at present there was no confirmation of the report that the Can- j tonese had occupied that city. \ Mr. J. B. Clynes (Labour, Manches- I ter) thanked Sir Austen for his statement. He said he welcomed the announcement that outstanding questions were to be settled by negotiation. Mr. Lloyd George offered his warmest congratulations to the Foreign Secretary and asked whether negotiations had been opened, either with Peking or the local authorities, in respect to the Shanghai concession. Sir Austen said negotiations had been opened with the Peking Government, to which Sir Miles Lampson, the British Minister to Peking, had made a declaration similar to that made to Mr. Chen. Britain could not deal with the Shanghai international settlement in the same way as with the concession which belonged to her. Mr. E. Thurtle (Labour, Shoreditch) asked: ''Will the Government suggest to the other Powers that they appoint plenary representatives to consider what steps might be taken in case certain eventualities arise?" Sir Austen replied: "The less said about eventualities—which we hope may not arise—the better."