CHINA AND THE POWERS

Evening Star, Issue 19443, 29 December 1926, Page 7

CHINA AND THE POWERS

COMMENTS ON BRITISH NOTE NOT HOPEFUL Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SHANGHAI,. December 28. (Received December 29, at 11 a.m.) The British memorandum to the Powers favoring the immediate granting of the Customs surtaxes agreed on at the Washington Conference was received with mixed feelings by the Chinese and foreign populations, it being tantamount to recognition of the revolutionary Government _ which has already illegally enforced, the said surtaxes in contravention of the treaties.

The ‘ North China Daily News ’ (Shanghai’s official consular organ) states that Canton’s reception of Britain’s proposal presents a difficulty owing to its providing the northern military leaders with fresh sinews of war. The ‘ Kuomintang Press ’ declares that the proposals are utterly unacceptable. “If this is the best Britain can offer wo understand perfectly the necessity of its Foreign Office feeling the need of rushing all the spare naval forces from, other fields of Imperialistic exploitation towards what it seems determined to retain and expand at any cost. The net results of the new proposal will only intensify the alreadybitter attitude of our people towards their relentless Imperialist foe.” The Shanghai ‘ Times ’ (a British newspaper) believes that Britain’s proposal puts a cat in the pigeon loft. The result will be awaited with the keenest interest. It describes the proposal as being too far-reaching, considering the chaotic state of the country. Older residents familiar with the characteristics of the Chinese, describe the policy as weak and as calculated to encourage the Southern extremists to redouble their efforts to overthrow British influence in China. Friendly gestures are always interpreted by the Chinese as weakness.

WHITE AND RED

RUSSIANS SUPPORT RIVAL FACTIONS.

SHANGHAI, December 28. (Received December 29, at 11.30 a.m.)

The Russian element in the Chinese war is becoming more pronounced daily. Thousands of hungry, destitute white Russians, who were formerly driven out of their homes in Russia by the Soviet and driven to take refuge in China, where they were forced to beg for work as Chinese coolies, are joining the anti-Red Chinese army, hoping to strike a blow at Bolshevism.

For the first time in many years China is divided into two main factions in a clear-cut issue, of which the Russians are taking advantage, joining the respective armies, and resuming on a minor scale, the former Russian revolutionary warfare. The Shantung Governor, Chan Chung-chang, is the principal provincial ally of Chang Tsolin, Peking’s military dictator, who is a Japanese protege and a staunch antiRed. He commands several thousand white Russians, forming an armored car division. He achieved prominence in the internecine warfare in the vicinity of Shanghai last year by piercing the enemy’s lines and capturing Shanghai without firing a shot, holding it until the arrival of the Chinese rearguard. This identical division has crossed the Yangtse, and is stationed at Nanking, waiting for the signal to advance on Shanghai to protect it against the approach of the Cantonese. An understanding exists between Sun Chuan-feng and Chang Chung-chnng, whereby the latter preserves Shanghai against Red attacks, while Sun Chuanfeng concentrates on the western front against the advance of the Reds from Hankow.

The anti-Recl allies are now manoeuvring in the south-west sector of Central China, forming defences impregnable against the Reds. Despite the presence of Red Russians in their ranks the Shanghai-Nanking railway is cleared ready for the Shangtung troops to rush to Shanghai in the event of the Cantonese penetrating the western defences, but the Red capture of Shanghai is remote, unless treachery occurs.