POSITION DISCUSSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1927, Page 7

POSITION DISCUSSED.

Prime Minister's Report to

Commons.

ONE SEPOY KILLED.

(Received 11 a.m.)

LONDON, March 22.

The situation at Shanghai was referred to in the House of Commons by Mr. Baldwin in the course of a reply to Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald.

A general strike for three days, he said, had been declared in celebration ot the Nationalist victory. It was not against foreigners, but included public utility workers.

The Punjabis were proceeding to their posts in motor lorries when they were attacked by gunmen.

One Sepoy was killed, and another seriously injured. The assailants escaped.

A 6tate of emergency was declared by the municipality, and naval and military forces had been allotted for purposes of internal security.

At the request of the municipal authorities, armed guards have been provided for foreign property on the municipal roads beyond the cordon.

Royal marines had been landed on the river-front opposite Shanghai. Mr. Mac Donald: Were the Punjabis attacked inside or outside the settlement'/

Mr. Baldwin: I believe it was inside the cordon, but outside the international settlement.

Captain Garro-Jones (Lib., Hackney) Is there any form of diplomatic con tact with the Cantonese!

Mr. Baldwin: The Consul-General at Shanghai is in constant touch. Colonel Ward has a representative, who is likely to get in touch with either side There are plenty of funds; that is the best way of settling any matter.

Major H. E. Crawfurd (Lib., Walthamstow): Has there been any threat to the civil population.

Mr Baldwin: That entirely depends on what you mean by a threat. You must remember the settlement is seething with mobs that may get out of order.

Replying to further questions, Mr. Baldwin said that in saeh a kaleidoscopic situation on© had to get into diplomatic touch with whoever one could.