EVENTS IN CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 19519, 29 March 1927, Page 5

EVENTS IN CHINA

AN OMINOUS WARNING FAITH IN CANTONESE UNWARRANTED DEFENCE FORCES INADEQUATE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON", March 2S. ' A grave warning by the Shanghai correspondent of * The Tiroes ’ indicates that Britain’s faith in the Cantonese is of no avail. He declares that the ■'l,ooo Cantonese troops have no power of control over tho local Communist Government, with its slogan ’‘Take back the Settlement.” There is not tho slightest reason,' lie says, to suppose that tho Cantonese will attempt to restrain the Communists, but instead they will aid Britain s enemy! Therefore Britain must look to herself. Thu foreign defensive forces are inadequate The I* rench Concession is a veiy weak spot, and is insufficiently held.

The whole position needs reorganisation. News ol more weakness in China will reverberate throughout Asia with unforeseen results. The Cantonese are piasters everywhere south of the Ynngtse, and control mere than half tho country. They can beat the only remaining important militarist, Central Chang Tso-lin, and he in Peking when they please. The Cantonese want a clean sweep of every foreign treaty, right, and privilege. Then they will graciously negotiate new treaties on severely equal terms. The Kuomintang split has been overstressed. Both elements are working completely to destroy tho foreign treaties. The Hankow signature is not of the slightest use. The Cantonese are only biding their time to apply the came methods to Shanghai.—‘ Tho Times.’