SITUATION IN CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 19520, 30 March 1927, Page 5

SITUATION IN CHINA

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS FOREIGN SECRETARY REPLIES FUTURE OF SHANGHAI. (British Official News.) Press Association—By Wireless —Copyright. RUGBY, March 28. Asked in tho House of Commons whether the Comma ndcr-in-Chief of the Cantonese forces had specifically stated that in his opinion the looting and outrages were committed by the Northern troops, Sir Austen Chamberlain said he had seen that statement, but information derived from American and British sources was to tho contrary. Asked whether he was aware of tho uneasiness prevailing among tho British nationals at Hankow owing to tho failure of the Cantonese forces to maintail} order in the Concession, Sir Austen Chamberlain said ho was informed that tho position at Hankow had recently again boon strengthened. Chinese troops had been stopping and threatening British residents, and had tried to prevent access to and from tho ships of war. Representations had been t e to Mr Chon, who had expressed his regret, and tho Cantonese soldiers had now been withdrawn from the Concession. The British Consul-General and the naval authorities were taking what steps were in their judgment necessary for the security of British subjects. Was the Foreign Secretary aware, inquired Sir Clement Kinlock-Cooke (Con.) that the Hankow agreement had had no beneficial effects whatever, but the contrary? Sir Austen Chamberlain said that personally he would not at this stage pronounce final judgment on the agreement. Obviously, when an agreement was signed in good faith by tho British Government and Mr Chen, it must he judged by results. Tho Minister was then questioned about the future of Shanghai. He declared that no negotiations regarding the International Settlement were in progress at present ; nor was it possible to negotiate fruitfully in the present anarchical conditions. He observed that the future of the Settlement could only be determined in consultation with the other Powers interested. Moreover, Britain had dealt in a most liberal, and he might say spirit with British property in tho British Concessions, and wo must be assured that tho conditions were such that the Chinese authorities, whoever they were,_ could preserve order where their authority extended before we made further surrender of British rights.

SUPPRESSION OF BOLSHEVISM.

CHANG TSO-LIN’S APPEAL TO JAPAN. TOKIO, March 29. Warning Japan that her assistance in the recognition of the Canton Government would result in an anti-Japa-nese movemet in Manchuria, General Chang Tso-lin, in a special reception to Japanese journalists at Peking, _ urged Japanese co-operation in the elimination of Communism in China. Ho said that Russia still regarded Japan as an enemy, and contemplated revolutionising Japan after the Red drive in China. Ho could but hope that Japan would co-operate with China in tho suppression of Bolshevism. He added that ho fervently hoped that Japan would not be deceived bv South China, and would not abandon him. F RENCH R EIN FORCEMENTS. LONDON, March 29. (Received March 90, at 1.30 a.m.) The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ Paris correspondent states that important French reinforcements have been ordered to Shanghai from Indo-China.—Sydney ‘ Sun ’ Cable.