CHINA TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 20033, 26 November 1928, Page 5

CHINA TO-DAY

RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN SITUATION. (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, November 23. Speaking at the annual dinner of the China Association last night. Sir Laming WMrthington-Evans (Minister of War) referred to the marked improvement in the. situation in China, and declared that .British' interests there were not separate from,, but parallel with, the interests of China. Ho paid a tribute to the services of the British forces at Shanghai, Ho said that the British forces in China had already been reduced considerably, and still more battalions were coming away during the’next trooping season. There was an efficient local iorco at Shanghai, largely composed of business men, winch, ho hoped, would he developed with a view to meeting any emergency. The British taxpayers would have to pay altogether £4.000,000 on account of tho defence force, and tho Government felt that what could be done locally should he done. Referring to the general international situation, the Minister eniphasised that peace was the main desire of the British Government.

General Sir John Duncan, late commander of the. British forces in China, made tho point that the Chinese were not anti-British. They were proChinese, which was quite a diffcrcijr thing. NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN. DEADLOCK REACHED. Press Association-By Telegraph—Copyright. SHANGHAI, Novcinbm' 23. Tho negotiations between China and Japan tor a settlement of tho outstanding questions, which have been proceeding at Nanking intermittently for the past month, are believed to have definitely broken down in consequence of China’s insistence and Japan’s refusal to evacuate Shantung. Mr Yada. the Japanese Consul-Gen-eral at Shanghai, who has been representing Japan, has telegraphed to his home Government for specific instructions in regard to tho Shantung question, and Tokio’s answer brought about a deadlock. Dr Wang, the Chinese representative, terminated the negotiations.

Accordingly the residents of Peking are enjoying free tram rides as a result of tho refusal of the conductors to collect fares until tho company assures the protection of its employees from tho native soldiers, who beat up the conductors whenever taros arc asked tor, The entire populace is joy riding. —Australian Press Association]