SITUATION IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 53, 26 November 1928, Page 11

SITUATION IN CHINA

MARKED IMPROVEMENT PEOPLE NOT ANTI-BRITISH, BUT PRO-CHINESE : COST TO BRITAIN OF FORCES AT SHANGHAI' Sir Laming WorthingtonEvans, referring to the marked improvement in China, declared that British interests there were not separate from, but parallel with the interests of China. Sir John Duncan made a point of the fact that the Chinese were not auti-British. . .(British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 23. Speaking at the annual dinner of the China Association, last .night, Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, the British War Minister, referred to the marked improvement in the situation in China, and declared that British interests there were not seperate from, but parallel with the interests of China. He paid a tribute to the services of British forces at Shanghai. . The British forces in China had already been reduced considerably, and still more battalions were coming away during the next trooping season. There was an efficient local force at- Shanghai,-large-ly composed of business men, and he hoped it would be developed with a view to any emergency. The British taxpayers would have to pay altogether £4,000,000 on account of the defence force, and the Government felt that what could be done locally should be done. Referring to the general international- situation the Minister, emphasised that peace was the main desire of the British Government. General Sir John Duncan, late Commander of the British Forces hr China, made the point that the Chinese were, not anti-British; They were- TroChinese, which was quite a different thing. CHINA AND JAPAN ■ . • ■ : ’■•/'a*’ v OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS FAILURE OF SETTLEMENT : NEGOTIATIONS (United Press Association.— By. Electric Telegraph,—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Shanghai, November 23. The negotiations between. China and Japan for the settlement of outstanding questions, which., have-'been proceeding at Nanking intermittently, for the past month,, are believed definitely to have broken down in consequence of China’s insistence that Japan should evacuate Shantung and Japan’s refusal. Mr. Yada, the Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai, who has been representing Japan in the negotiations, telegraphed to his home Government for specific instructions regarding the Shantung question.Tokio’s answer brought, a deadlock, and Dr. Wang, the Chinese representative, terminated the negotiations accordingly. . ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE POSSIBILITY OF REVIVAL DISCUSSED TIME FOR CONCERTED ACTION IN CHINA (Australian Press Association.) ' ■ Tokio, November 23. As a bolt from the blue" a sudden discussion of the possibilities of a revival of the Anglo.:Japanese Alliance is occupying the newsnapers. A desire for closer co-operation with Britain is admitted, as it is realised - that Hie time has arrived for concerted action' on the part of interested Bowers in their dealings with China. These views are^suppo.rto'’ 1 by business leaders, who propose a delegation to HongKong and Singapore to consult, the British mercantile communities. FREE TRAM RIDES IN PEKING CONDUCTORS NOT TAKING FARES (Australian Press Association.) Peking, November 23. Residents of Peking are enjoying free tram rides as the result of the refusal of conductors to collect fares until the company assures the protection of its employees from native soldiers, who beat up conductors-when-ever fares are asked. The entire populace is joy-riding.