CHINA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18947, 11 March 1927, Page 12

CHINA.

CONCESSION AT TIENTSIN. READJUSTMENT OF STATUS. | * MIXED COMMISSION SET UP. j (AUSTRALIA!? AND K.Z. CABL* ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. The Foreign Office announces the appointment of a Commission, consisting of representatives of the British and Peking Governments, to consider a modification of the present svstem of administering the British Concession at Tientsin, which is different from all others hi China. _ j It is wedged between the French and the former German Concessions, while the main thoroughfare is occupied by Chinese, Austrian, Russian, French, and German stores. The American Consular buildings are situated in the centre of the Concession, while the waterfront, though used by other concessionaries, is entirely Brit-ish-owned. Owing to the many interests affected, the Commission's task will be very complicated and difficult. Official circles emphasise that the appointment of the Commission is another step along the lines of the Hankow agreement towards liberalising the conditions of British Concessions and settlements in China on the basis of the British offer to the whole of China or to any Government in China. BRITISH FORCES. ; VOTE OF £950,000. STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIBELESS.) BUGBY. March 9. On a vote of £950,000 to meet expenditure arising out of the dispatch of troops to China> Captain Douglas King, Financial Secretary to the War Office, gave in Parliament a short account of how the dispatch of the force was carried out. On January 18th the Board of Trade was authorised to make the necessary arrangements for ships and transport. The Government, not: wishing to take nny decided military action until the last poesible moment, did not authorise the -War Office to_ take the neoessary military action until January 21st. :' On ; that day warning orders were sent to the units selected to go to '"-.China, and on the same day notices ' Were posted calling up the men of : Section 'A of the Army Service, com- ' posed of men who undertook the liability to come up for service at any ; time within two years of their leaving--1 the Colour^. * Of that section of the reserve, * notices'were sent to 1518 men, and it •was very satisfactory to know that ' out'of that toftl only.four failed to reply to their notices. Between January 2oth and 29th, five transports left this country, conveying praeticallyvthe whole of the Shanghai Defence. Force, including the whole rifle strength and most ot, tho auxiliary I 'troops. For the speed with which the dispatch of the force was carried out the very greatest credit was due to the military and civilian staffs and •'-'officers' at the Board of Trade responsible for transport. ' The whole movement was carried out > with very little fuss and no osten- ' tation. The cost of conveyance of the . force by sea was estimated at £320.000. Answering a number of questions relating to Shanghai, Mr G. Lockor- ' Lampson.V, Under-Secretary for For- / eign Affairs, stated that the British . Consul-General there had been empowered, if thought fit, to carry on any negotiations which might be necessary •with either of the contending forces. . : The vote was carried by 303" votes to 124. REPUBLIC DOOMED. FRENCH MISSIONARY'S VIEW.

',i (imuilil ANB U.S. CABIB ASSOCIATION.) j " - PABIS,. March 0. J Prenck missionary, M. Robert, who >was foriwty years in China; expresses the opinion that 3000, Europeans would lave no difficulty in defending Shanghai • V against 60,000 Chinese. A wave of xenophobia would render the Chinese' even less fit for self-govern- ' ( ment than at A republic . would-not be.likely to endure. Even the late Dr. . Sun Yat-sen would only maintain a republic based on Imperialism, combined with .the European action essential for the .restoration of order. tAND VALUES FALL. , r UNCERTAINTY AT HANKOW. ; ? (AUSTRALIA* AMD - Tt.X. CABLI ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, March 9. Mr Loeker-Lampson, in a written answer to a question, , admitted that there had been a considerable fall in land values at Hankow as well as in .municipal bonds and debentures. This .was attributable to the uncertain politiealposition. ' He hoped that the Hankow. Agreement would lead to the grad- : : ual restoration of confidence.' UNION HEADQUARTERS RAIDED. • - ■ (Srojnr "Svx" Sana.) (Received March 10th, 8 p.m.) PEKING, March 9. Police raided the headquarters of the General ,Labour Union at Shanghai snd arrested 50 delegates, who were discussing plans for a general strike. .' They seized a mass of knti-foreign literature. MORE PROPAGANDISTS ARRESTED. v>'. (ArST&ALIAN AND JT.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.) i (Received March 10th, 11.15 p.m.) SHANGHAI, March 10. / \ Police raided th& headquarters of the Postal Workers Union during r. meet- '•' ing at wbichi: preparations were being Jor another, genera] strike. quantity of strike literature secured. ■ Labour' Union representative® and the secretary and -treasurer of f he- .Postal - Workers' Union detained and the 1 Othitß released. *'■ -

SOVIET ENVOYS SHOT. RUMOUR IN SHANGHAI. (iVfTBALUJf un> *•*. CABL> IMOCIATIO*.) (Received March 10th, 8.20 p.m.) SHANGHAI .March 10. The steamer bringing the Coldstream Guards has arrived. A report is current that the military authorities at Tsinanfu shot the three Sonet diplomatic courtiers, arrested with Madam Borodin while carrying propaganda, munitions, military information to the Nationalist headquarters at Hankow. Madame is still a prisoner. The entire episode is construed to possess the gravest international significance: It is declared by the Soviet Embassy at Peking to be an act of piracy and murder.