Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1927. CABINET'S CHOICE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1927, Page 8

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1927. CABINET'S CHOICE

The recall of the Minister of War from the Riviera and of the First Lord of the Admiralty and other Ministers from less distant stations is at least evidence that the British Government realises that.the policy of waiting and seeing and turning the other cheek to the Chinese smiter cannot be prolonged indefinitely, and that the* choice will soon be between effective resistance and utter ruin. According to the diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Herald," the position is "very grave and no eventuality ' can be ruled out," and he expressly mentions the attempt to recapture the Hankow Concessions by force of arms as among the possibilities. We are glad that he should think so, not because such a policy seems to us worthy of adoption or even of serious consideration, but because his opinion shows that Ministers have at least made the impression upon him of being desperately in earnest, and if ihey could make the same impression upon the Chinese it would be half the battle. At the time of writing all that we are definitely told of the result of the prolonged Cabinet discussion on Monday is that it may be summed up in "the preparedness of the Government to negotiate with the Chinese to any reasonable extent, and^on a liberal basis, but the Government is not prepared to surrender to violence." In itself this summary is really neither better nor worse than what we have had from time to time during the last eighteen months. The Government has consistently maintained that it was prepared to negotiate on a reasonable basis, but not to surrender-, to violence. But like the young lady who, whispering she would ne'er consent, consented, the Government has done the very thing that it repudiated, and vowing it would ne'er retreat, retreated.

The crowning humiliation was the abandonment of the British Concession in Hankow. It was a blow not merely to Britain . but to all - the Treaty Powers^ but as the others were not immediately threatened they declined to lend a hand, and Britain was unable to stand up to the Reds single-handed. Her dil-' emma was well illustrated by a dispatch which the "Times" published from its Pekin correspondent on Ist December. He gave two striking examples of the manner in which the disunion and feebleness of the Powers concerned had played into the hands of the Revolutionaries. In violation of the tfeaties extra duties had been imposed on foreign trade at Canton, and "their collection had proceeded for a month before the Diplomatic Body at Pekin, representative of the twelve interested Powers, lodged a protest of so ineffective a character as to be worse than useless." The reply of the Cantonese . authorities was insolently evasive, yet when the correspondent wrote the "pained representatives" of the insulted Powers had been unable to agree upon, an answer. They were equally unable to take joint action when the illegal denunciation of the Belgian Treaty—an illegality in which we were informed yesterday Belgium had decided to acquiesce^—raised a point which sooner or later must affect them all. This was taking it lying down with a vengeance, but when British gunboats did their duty, what was the result? ■ !

British lives and property were endangered ark Wanhsien, says the "Times" correspondent, and action for their protection.' was taken, resulting in the augmentation of anti-British feeling throughout Szechwan. Boycotts were renewed or initiated at various points, and great anxiety was felt for the safety of British missionaries resident in that remote and inaccessible province.

Like the diplomatic protest abovementioned, the gallantry of our sailors at Wanhsien would therefore appear on this correspondent's own showing to • have been "worse than useless," yet there was really no inconsistency in his argument. While expressing the desire of all British residents for a strong policy, he inferred from the experience of Wanhsien and Hankow the need for shortening the British lines, and willy-nilly this course has been dictated by subsequent events. The stand, if any stand can be made at all, must be made at Shanghai. It will be time enough to think of lengthening the lines again by six or seven hundred miles *and recapturing Hankow when the base has been proved to be impregnable. If Shanghai cannot be made ■ impregnable it will apparently be time for a foreigner to write off his Chinese investments and for every foreign resident to pack up and go. The possibility that the Powers which felt no call to stand by Britain may realise that they are now in equal j^egS|s-the ground .%£ hoping that

the disastrous effects of mutual distrust and diversion will not be carried to their logical limit.

The adoption at the eleventh hour of a general agreement- by the Treaty Powers-is quite beyond hope. America appears to be just as aloof as- ever, and Japan almost as distrustful as ever. The French Gov.ernment says nothing, but doubtless shares the "Matin's" opinion that "this is not an opportune moment to make a concerted declaration regarding China." Belgium's selection of this very moment as suitable for negotiating a new treaty with the Pekin Government speaks for itself. But it is still possible to hope that, whatever may be their conflicting opinions regarding an ultimate settlement, the Powers may agree to recognise that if they lose their hold on Shanghai they lose their base and have nothing to bargain with. It was accordingly reported by the "Observer's" Pekin correspondent last; week that "most of the Powers have agreed to regard as an act of war any threat against the Shanghai foreign settlement similar to that at Hankow." The sharp distinction drawn by the "Matin" between a common declaration of policy and the defence of Shanghai, and the strong approval of Britain's action by the Japanese Press are also encouraging signs. But there is nothing amounting' to an official commitment, and no authoritative repudiation of the policy against which, "Pertinax" warns the French Government—the policy of "leaving the British to assume the odium of work-which'will profit all."