VIEW IN LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 137, 11 June 1936, Page 9

VIEW IN LONDON

CRISIS NOT IMMINENT WARNING TO BRITONS (Received June 11, 1 p.m.) LONDON, June 10. Troop movements continue to be reported'in the Chinese province of Hunan, but the forces of the Central Government at Nanking and of the South China Administration are still separated by the southern Hunan mountain barrier. Experts in London do not believe civil war is imminent. The British Consul at Changsha has provisionally warned British subjects to evacuate southern Hunan. The British gunboat Scarab has left Hankow for Changsha. The capture of Hengchow is regarded as unimportant. ONLY A NEW SLOGAN. "The Times's" Shanghai correspondent says that the much-advertised mobilisation of the military forces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi for the purpose of resisting Japanese aggression is not yet being taken seriously anywhere in China or even in Japanese circles, where the declaration of the south-west council is regarded at least only as. a new slogan in domestic politics. The principal differences between the National Government and Kwangtung and Kwangsi are that the latter have built up powerful military organisations over which Nanking has no control and that a large proportion of the funds used for the purpose has been obtained from Nanking. A further complication is the large amount of nationalised silver which should be deposited in the National Exchequer, which is now being held in Canton. NO GREAT TROOP MOVEMENTS. The opinion is expresse'd generally that the present military movements in Kwangtung and Kwangsi are concerned not so much with patriotic ebullition as a demonstration to indicate that the military leaders are not prepared to relinquish either their independence or their silver without resistance. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that there is a strong desire, especially among the younger elements throughout China, to oppose Japan by force. Hence what appears to be 1 only an internal complication might become something more serious. Military movements hitherto have been triflling, and it would be premature to assume that portentous developments are afoot until they are reported on a much greater scale.