TALK TO PENWOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 235, 4 October 1937, Page 12

TALK TO PENWOMEN.

POSITION IN CHINA. Mr. Arpad Szigetvary addressed the Penwomen's Club on Friday afternoon on "World Affairs." "Western peoples," lie said, ''have practically forced themselves on an unwilling China." The first people to establish themselves were the Portuguese, who went there for trading purposes and established themselves near Hongkong. Later came Britain and •Frajice. The chief idea of the East India Company in China was the sale of opium, and it was unfortunate that they obtained the backing of the British Government. Although opposed by t lie Chinese Government, opium was forced on the country.

Then, said the speaker, came the desire for territory, and America. Russia, Germany and Italy all secured portions of Chinese territory. They also obtained "concessions" in various cities. "In Shanghai," he said, "there is a British concession, also an American and French. The French concession is a part of France, but the others have combined to form an international settlement. The Japanese and the Italians also have small territories in China. China is a sovereign State and yet she is partitioned up among foreign powers."

Japan obtained a footing in China during the Great War, he continued, when she consolidated her position over a great portion of Asia. The speaker considered that the League of Nations was doing great work in health and social problems. "Through these activities," he concluded, "they will do more to counteract war than they will in any other sphere."

The president, Mrs. H. Carr Rollett, presided, and thanked Mr. Szigetvary for his address. Jf