STILL NEEDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 20, 24 January 1929, Page 7

STILL NEEDED.

TROOPS IN CHINA.

Conditions Do Not Warrant

Withdrawal.

REDUCTIONS MADE.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, January 23.

Sir Austen Chamberlain was asked in the House of Commons to-day about consultations between Sir Miles Lampson, the British Minister in China, and the Nanking Government. He replied that Sir Miles Lampson had returned to the north but there were many matters still to be settled between the two Governments.

Replying to a further question the Foreign Minister said that Nanking was the official capital of the Nationalist Government, but a transfer of the administration to the new seat of Government was not completed and difficulties in regard to accommodation made it impossible for the British Minister to reside there.

Arrangements were being made for a member of the British Legation staff to reside at Shanghai as the Minister's personal representative and to visit Nanking as, and when, required to keep in touch with the Nationalist Government.

Asked when the remaining units of the Shanghai Defence Force would be withdrawn from China, Sir Austen said the Government had no desire to keep troops in Shanghai a day longer than was necessary, but at present the conditions were not such as to admit of total withdrawal, although the numbers had steadily been reduced.