CHINA AND THE POWERS

Evening Star, Issue 19522, 1 April 1927, Page 7

CHINA AND THE POWERS

AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT UNITED ACTION PROBABLE .DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION Pres* A«ooiatian—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 31. An important development in the Chinese situation is imminent. The Government has discussed the question of the demands to be put before the Cantonese authorities, probably in conjunction with Japan and America, including compensation for the Nanking outrage.—Sydney 1 Sun ’ Cable. THE HANKING OUTRAGES STATEMENT BY FOREIGN MINISTER ATTACK ON JAPANESE CONSULATE. (British Official News.) Press Association—By Wireless—Copyright. RUGBY, March 80. In the House of Commons Sir Austeu Chamberlain, speaking on the Nanking outrages, said that, with regard to the Japanese, the following was the position;— On March 24 about 150 soldiers belonging to the Nationalist Army occupied the Japanese Consulate for four and a-half hours. They were in uniform, and wore military caps, and were armed with rifles. They began looting at once. One party attacked the offices and residence of the staff, and others attacked the residence of the Consul, who was ill in bed, and fired shots at him and the members of his staff, at the naval officers and marines, and at the Japanese civilians who were at the Consulate, and threatened them with bayonets. The mob took away everything belonging to the members of the Consulate and the civilians. A Japanese school, a hotel, and two private hospitals were completely looted and turned into military headquarters. The soldiers at length threatened to set fire to the Consulate. At this point the Chief of the Political Bureau of the Sixth Division of the Second Nationalist Army intervened, followed by the commander of the Sixth Division, and guards were posted for the protection of the Consulate. The next afternoon the members of the Consular party made their way to the Japanese destroyers in the river. Mr Huber, the British harbor master, was among those who were killed. THE FRENCH GOHGESSIOIH CANTONESE REMOVE GATES RESIDENTS UNEASY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, March 30. There is increased uneasiness on the part of the residents of the French Concession owing to a mob which included some Cantonese soldiers attempting to invade the boundary. A French policeman was forced to draw his revolver, wounding a Cantonese; hut the mob calmly rooted up the iron gates at the entrance to the concession and carried them off. This contemptuous action has created a stir in the settlement, as the military authorities are not yet empowered to take over the defence of the concession, although unofficially the British and American outposts are ready to take up positions on the French and nativd boundary. The French authorities continue to minimise the incidents, adopting the attitude that they are not willing to meet trouble halfway, but prefer to wait until something serious happens. INCIDENT EXPLAINED. SHANGHAI, March 31. (Received April 1, at 1.30 a.m.) The reported storming of the French concession defences is denied in the course of a statement issued by the French Consulate-General. It is explained that a small crowd gathered and began stoning the barricades, but a sentry fired a shot into the air and the crowd disappeared. HANKOW AND HANKING EVACUATION OF FOREIGNERS. (British Official News.) Press Association—By Wireless—Copyright RUGBY. March 30. A telegram from Hankow states that the British Consul-General there had a meeting with leading British merchants on March 27, and urged them to send away at once all employees who were not absolutely necessary for such diminished business as there was, so that if a sudden evacuation should become necessary the numbers would be reduced to a minimum. All is quiet at Hankow at present, and Chinese feeling is easier, but it is expected that the critical time will be May 1, when the fourth All-China Convention meets there. The British subjects at Nanking are being evacuated to-day by the American steamer Hulhert. AMERICA STANDS ALOOF TO PLAY A LONE HAND. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, March 30. As the line of his policy is to get into no unnecessary entanglement in China, President Coolidge has decided that the United States will play a lone hand, acording to an announcement at White House. The American forces, therefore, will not be merged with the troops of the other Powers. America wishes at the earliest possible moment to be in readiness to deal in a friendly manner with any constituted authority in China.—Sydney ' Sun ’ Cable.