THE OFFICIAL VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1927, Page 9

THE OFFICIAL VIEW

FORCE FOR DEFENCE ONLY

MUST PROTECT LIFE

LONDON, 3rd February. Official circles emphasise that there is not the leaat foundation for Chen's accusation that the dispatch of a British forco had produced conditions under which ho was asked to negotiate "with a revolver at his head." Britain has not taken, and does not intend to take, any military steps whatever

against either the Pekin or the Cantonese Governments. It is recognised that the Cantonese Government does not contemplate an attempt to capture Shanghai by force, but in view of events at Hankow and the looting of Kiukiang, neither Britain nor anyone else can be satisfied that the Cantonese are capable of preventing disorders, and even possible massacres, at Shanghai.

"We could at Hankow give the Cantonese a chance of proving their, ability to maintain order, because in the event of failure we could rapidly evacuate the city. But at Shanghai the position is quite different. Bight thousand British people there could not be safely evacuated from a population of a million and a half of Chinese, if anti-Bri-tish feeling; of which there has been already plenty of avidence, were fomented until great masses of the Chinese ran amuck. In view of these risks no British Government; of whatever complexion, dare risk being unready to defeud her nationals? lives. We are pledged to protect those lives, and we are determined to do so, whatever Chen may do."

NOT "DOWN" BUT "OFF."

"It is untrue to say lhat negotiations at Hankow have broken down. They are broken off, as the agreement previously being discussed has taken a now turn. Chen's protest against the dispatch of troops brings to~the forefront the conversations with Mr. O'Mal-' ley on' the question of the defence of our nationals' in Shanghai. This is how official circles interpret Chen's latest move, is .learned that there is not the least likelihood of any modification of Britain's determination to defend her citizens in Shanghai. There cannot be any question of stopping or turning back the military forces. Official (fii-cles do not expect that Chen will maintain the protest. Unofficial circles do not expect that Chen will maintain his protest to the extent .of finally breaking down all'negotiations. If he does, the only possible conclusion will be that he is no longer a free agent, but a mere puppet of Moscow.

_ Cabinet again considered the China situation at a special meeting at the Foreign Office yesterday afternoon.