POWERS’ UNITED ACTION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 162, 5 April 1927, Page 9

POWERS’ UNITED ACTION

ESSENTIAL IN CHINA FOB SAFETX OF FOREIGNERS AND FUTURE WELFARE OF CHINESE PEOPLE The American Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai has issued a statement in which it declares that the adoption of a conciliatory policy by foreign Governments is merely strengthening the lawless elements and encourages outrages like that at Nanking. The future welfare of the Chinese people and the ultimate safety of Americans and other foreigners in China, it states, can be attained only by the unified action of the Powers to suppress disorder 'and restore conditions favourable to the formation of a responsible Government.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.

■ (Rec. April 4, 10.45 p.m.) Shanghai, April 4. : The American Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement that “repeated assurances by militarists and other spokesmen of the political factions that they can and will protect the life and property of foreigners are irreconcilable with recent events, leading to the necessity for the evacuation of the entire Yangtse Valley. The adoption of a conciliatory policy by foreign Governments is merely strengthening the lawless elements and encourages outrages like that at Nanking. Of all the cities in the Yangtse Valley, Shanghai alone is comparatively safe to foreigners. This is due entirely to the presence of foreign warships and military. It is obvious that a protective policy applying .to Shanghai alone will not enable China to put her house in order nor prevent ! enormous losses from the evacuation of •the interior districts. We are convinced 'that the future walfare of the Chinese ' people, and the ultimate safety of ‘ Americans and other foreigners in. ' China can be attained only by the unified action of the Powers to suppress ’ disorder and restore conditions favour--1 able’to the formation of a responsible Government.”

-DISPATCH OF MORE TROOPS \ NO CHANGE IN BRITISH POLICY London, April 3. ■ The “Observer’s” diplomatic correspondent states that official quarters explain that the dispatch of more troops to China does not foreshadow any change in policy. A distinction is made between the Nanking outrages and the general problem. The Nanking episode is regarded as merely an interruption in the major diplomacy, though so serious that the Government has decided to exact redress elsewhere. It is pointed out that it is essential that there should be an adequate force on the spot when the demand is made for reparations for the Nanking outrages. 1 he troops defending Shanghai cannot be withdrawn for duty elsewhere, and are none too numerous for the present policing work. . . . Sir Austen Chamberlain remained in London at the week-end and kept in touch with the Foreign Office, The contents of dispatches received from China were communicated to Mr. Baldwin at Chequers. The general situation is unchanged. NANKING OUTRAGES WORK OF HUNANESE NATIONALISTS Rugby, April 2. Further investigations of last week’s happenings at Nanking have established the fact beyond question that the killing of foreigners and complete looting of practically all. foreign houses, including the three Consulates, was the ■work of Hunanese Nationalist soldiers. Fantastic stories circulated from certain Chinese and other sources allege that shells fired from British and American vessels op that date caused the death of thousands of Chinese and damaged half the city. Actually lie casualties to Chinese civilians is reliably reported to have numbered only three. The fire from the warships was opened just in time to prevent the wholesale massacre of foreigners, and was directed on unoccupied ground near Secony taflj the protection ci a party of

foreigners who were themselves escaping under fire from Chinese soldiery. The Chinese have now mounted a 10-inch gun on Lion Hill, Nanking,; commanding the river, , ic ,, >;.) The remaining foreigners from Changsha have reached Hankow. At, Wuhu a Spanish Bishop and twenty-one priests are now on board the British cruiser Caradoc,, to which the foreign community was withdrawn during a demonstration yesterday. At Kiukiang, which Americans and Japanese communities are about to evacuate, a serious warning, given jointly to the focal authorities by the British, American and Japanese naval commanders and consuls, has had a salutary effect in easing the situation.—British Official Wireless. THREE CHINESE CASUALTIES FROM SHELLING DEMAND THAT GUILTY BE PUNISHED Rugby, April 3. Further information ascertained from unimpeachable sources bears out that the killing and outrages which took place in Nanking were the work of

uniformed Hunanese Nationalist soldiers. Practically every foreign house in the city was completely pillaged, including the three Consulates and eight foreign-owned houses were burnt to the ground. Looting continued for several davs after the outrages of March 24. It was gunfire from the British cruiser Emerald and American destroyers which enabled any foreigners to escape with their lives. Shells fired by warships were dropped over green agricultural ground near the Standard Oil Hill, and provided a protective barrage tor a party of foreigners who were escaping, and who were under the rifle fire of Chinese soldiery all the time. Reliable Chinese sources confirm that only three Chinese civilian casualties were caused by the shelling. Only a few foreignowned houses are in the area where the shells were dropped, and the damage to Chinese property was infinitesimal., No Chinese house caiigljt fire. ‘ Referring to Nanking in a speech at Darlington last night, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Minister of Health, said “After the intolerable outrages that have been inflicted on us, the very feast we can do is to demand that the guilty shall be punished, that an apology shall be made, and that such reparation as is possible shall be offered for the injuries that have been done. We desire to put our demands forward in complete harmony and co-operation with other nations whose nationals have suffered. I trust that the Cantonese Government, who claim to rank among civilised peoples of the world, will do what any civilised nation would do, and will take steps to find out who is gulltv and that thev will satisfy the demands which we shall put forward to them. But there must be no evasion or denial of these responsibilities, which by evidence not only of British, but of other nationals, have already been proved to rest on the shoulders of the Cantonese Armv, and it must be clearly understood that neither in China nor anywhere else can British subjects be murdered, robbed, and insulted with impunity."—British Official Wireless. FRANCE’S POLICY . DECLARATION BY BRIAND London. April 3. The Paris correspondent of “lhe Times” says that unofficial reports indicate that M. Briand professed, before the Foreign Affairs Committee,

that he was satisfied with France’s position in China, on the ground that France’s policy of neutrality enabled her representatives to negotiate with anybody and everybody. M. Briand is reported to have declared that France had refused the British invitation to participate with other Powers in joint action, and expressed satisfaction with the French Government not being im plicated in the Nanking bombardment.—“ The Tines.’’ TWO JESUIT FATHERS PUT TO DEATH (Rec. April 4, 7 p.m.) Paris, April 4. The newspapers are giving promin ence to the fate of two Jesuit Fathers, Dubous and Manama. It is officially announced that they were put to death at Nanking bv order of the Cantonese authorities. :Their bodies were mutilated after execution, and left unburied for several days. UNITED STATES’ DEMANDS REASONABLE TERMS TO BE ADOPTED (Rec. April 4, 7.30 p.m.) New York, April 4. The “New York World’s” Washington .correspondent .states that whatevei demands the United States Government may make on the Cantonese'Govern ment as a result of the Nanking affair, they will be couched in _ reasonable terms with a view to insuring compli--ance. vTlie administration is apparently to ’iriake -allowances for the disturbed conditions at the time of the incident, namely, the withdrawal of the Northern forces and the subsequent taking of control bv tTie Cantonese The policy followed will be firmness, followed byi moderation, on the theory that extreme demands would be useless and probablv only aggravate the al- ' ready tense situation. An effort will be made to impress the Cantonese authorities with the seriousness of the outbreak against foreigners, and representatives of foreign Governments, which are virtually attacks upon those Governments themselves. THREATENED STRIKE OF SHIPS’ OFFICERS AVERTED BY APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM Shanghai, April 3. As indicative of the threatening situation in Shanghai, a warning has been given by the British Consul-Gen-eral to officers of the British merchant

marine,] .who; .threatened to tie up the Chinese coastal vessels following a duction in pay by the companies. The Consul warned representatives of the officers that such action was unpatri otic, and that it imperilled the lives of women and children who might be compelled to seek refuge on British ships in the harbour at any moment in the event of the receipt of a vital message from Britain. The officers have agreed to return to the ships, sink their grievances, and keep up steam in anticipation of a national emergency. ADVANCE ,0E ? - CHANG TSO-LIN CAPTURE OF YENCHENG .ANNOUNCED (Rec. April 4, 10.30 p.m.) Peking, April 4. Chang Tso-lin’s headquarters officially announce the capture of Yencheng, about 90 miles down the PekingHankow railway, southward of Chengchow. It is understood that Chang Tso-lin does not intend to advance further at present, in view of the possible danger to both his flanks, but will await developments near the southern Shantung border, where ;he Nationalists are advancing ' northward against Chang Tsting Chang. If the news regarding Yencheng is true, it means that Chang Tso-lin has now got within 200 miles of Hankow, and within 100 miles of the Nationalist advance guard on the southern Honan. CLASH OF JAPANESE AND CHINESE Shanghai, April 3. It is reported from Hankow. that Japanese bluejackets clashed with a mob of Chinese. The evacuation of all Japanese from the Concession has been ordered. —Sydney “Sun” Cable. PAN-PACIFIC LABOUR CONFERENCE Shanghai. April 3. A Pan-Pacific Labour Conference is to be held at Canton on May 1, under the auspices of the Federation of

the General Labour Unions of China and the Federation of Australian Lab our Unions. Invitations are being issued to Japan, India, Russia,, I tilted States, Mexico, Corea, Philippines, Indo-China, Canada, and countries on the West Coast of South America Hie conference aims, inter alia, at the prevention of warfare in the Pacific, and the solution of the Pacific immigration problem; also joint- defence against Imperialisms