CHINESE TROUBLE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10377, 7 April 1927, Page 5

CHINESE TROUBLE

SLOWLY DYING

POWERS’ DEMANDS

REPARATIONS FOR NANKING

NATIONS’ NOTES IDENTICAL.

BRITISH MODIFICATIONS

(United Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, April 5. Following on a consultation with Washington and Tokio, the terms of ,the British Note ihave- been telegraphed to Sir Miles Lampson, and will be presented simultaneously with identical American and Japanese Notes to the Nationalist Government in Hankow. . ’ Although the terms will not be published before presentation, the Australian Press Association learns on reliable authority that the British Cabinet somewhat modified the demands originally suggested by the Diplomatic Corps in Pekin. Franco and Italy will not be parties to the Notes, but they have been kept fully posted on the negotiations through their Ambassadors in Pekin. It is understood the demands include complete reparations for all damage to foreign property in Nanking, a public apology, and trial by Chinese courts of the officers who authorised and even commanded the outrages. * There is no hint obtainable of the nature of- any threat of reprisals the Note may contain. In the meantime the looting of foreign property in Nanking continues. Everything moveable, even gas ana electric fittings, have been taken. The War Office expects the Northamptonshire Regiment and the Guards to embark for China on Monday next, and the remainder of the reinforcements on April 13. Official circles have received no confirmation of the reported check to -the ’Cantonese advance northwards, and do not rely on Ohangtsolin’s ability to hold up the Nationalist advance for long.—A. and N.Z.C.A. LONDON, April 5. The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons that time would be given this afternoon for a debate on the China situation. Information of yesterday’s date from Nanking is that nothing lias b£en done to restrain the looting ot foreigners’ houses, practically all ol which have now been stripped by soldiers who visit them daily, and have torn away all the fittings, even to the window frames. —British Official Wireless.

SHANGHAI, April 5. The latest estimate of the casualties as the result of the recent Sino•Japanese clash in Hankow is 10 Chinese killed and many wounded while seven are held as hostages.

British property so far has been untouched and the former British concession remains quiet.—A.N.Z.C.A. WASHINGTON, April 5.

Cabinet decided to concentrate at Tientsin in case of emergency all Americans in Northern China. They will be protected there, as refugees from Central China are not protected by the American forces at Shanghai. -IA.N.Z.C.A .

“NO ULTIMATUM”

LABOR COUNCIL’S DEMANDS

ARBITRATION URGED (Received April 6, 7 p.m.) LONDON, April 5

The Labor National Joint Council, at a meeting held in the House of Commons, passed a resolution appealing to the Government, in ■view of the contradictory_ reports from Nanking, to refrain from presenting the Chinese authorities with anything in the nature of an ultim,atum, based on ex parte statements, the rejection of which would lead to a state of warfare, and demanding the Government ly to open negotiations and in the event of a disagreement, to submit the outstanding points to an arbitration tribunal, under the aegis of the League of Nations, the Government- to give an undertaking not -o make claims on China, except in accordance with the tritfunal’s decision.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

“RED” GOLD FOP, CHINA TRANSMITTED THROUGH TURKEY CLEVER- RUSE UNEARTHED (Received April 6. 7 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. Tire Times’ Constantinople correspondent says he lias learned thatMoscow is transmitting substantial sums to the Cantonese via Constantinople, from which centre, the money is being telegraphed to different merchants in. China, as a pretended payment, for goods, bought by British merchants in China. It is stated that 100,000.000 dollars have been thus transmitted during the past six weeks.—Times.

BRITISH CHINA TRADE

STATISTICS TO COMMONS

(Received April 6, 9.30- p.m.) ~ . . LONDON, April 5. Sir CimlifFe-Listerj in the course ot & written reply, regarding Britain’s exports to China. showed that each year between 1920-5 they were £41,761,000, £24,833,000, £21,827.000, £17,290,000, £19,082,000, £l3/535,000, and the imports from China £4,238,000, £1,374,000, £1,910,000, £2 - 133,030, £2,952,000, £2,253,000.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

JAPS TO EVACUATE

BEST ASSISTANCE. TO CHINA

(Received April 6, 9.30 p.m.) . ' TOKIO, April 5. The Japanese Government has decided on the policy of withdrawal ot all Japanese residents in the interior of China pending settlements, and are not depending on chaotic China for the protection of Japanese nationals, or holding a non-existent Chinese Government responsible for mob action. Cabinet decided this is the best method of rendering assistance to its neighbors, pending a final definite negotiation of new treaties, or the establishment of a government able to take control of the concessions. Japanese residents in China and at Hankow have already been ordered to leave the country, and will be taken aboard the Government ships. Japanese warships will remain in all ports in ' China guarding Japanese property.—A. N. Z. C. A.

AMERICANS ARRESTED

. ALLEGED' PROPAGANDISTS. (Received April 6, 9.30 p.m.) PEKING. April 5. Chineso police' arrested Wilbur Burton and Mrs Mildred Mitchell, the American news writers, on charges of being propagandists for the Nationalist Government tending to the overthrow of the. constituted authorities, and inciting the Peking public to disorder. .The alleged propagandists are guarded at an hotel by the Chinese. police, pending their, being hand-: ed over to the United States authorities. • Both prisoners were formerly employed on the Shanghai newspapers.—r A .N.Z.C. A. -

. RAIDED! SOVIET EMBASSY AT PEKIN. (Received April 7, 1 a.m.) pEKiN, April G. Acting with the signed authorisation of the diplomatic corps, a body ot Chang Tsolin's troops and armed police raided the Soviet Embassy. One shot was heard, whereafter a Russian was dragged out, bound, and carried off in a motorcar. Hitherto six Russians and from 15 to 20 Chinese were removed to the police station. A machine gun, fifteen rifles and a quantity of ammunition have also been removed from the Embassy. It is understood that the Soviet Charge d’Affaires and other officials _ have been detained in their offices. Troops still occupy the building.—A.N.Z.C.A.

THE REAL CHINESE

BY A. CORBETT-SMITH

(Formerly Deputy Secretary, the Shanghai Municipal Council).

Oan any Westerner ever know the real Chinese ¥ A certain British diplomat at Die' Court of Pekin -had occasion to interview a distinguished Chinese official. Our diplomat, with thirty odd years’ residence in China, had a sound knowledge of the official language, and he spoke it fluently. With care he stated liis case, the Chinese listening with exquisite courtesy. At the close the latter turned to a friend and, with amused surprise remarked, “These barbarians speak a language strangely like our own.”

A race which numbers ' nearly it quarter of the earth’s inhabitants and occupies a land greater than Europe; which comprises more than sixty different people, and which speaks as many different dialects as thfhe am cities and districts. How can one ever know the real Chinese V And such children they are! Crack a joke with a Chinese and he is vours. I remember once, in a Yangtse village, being faced by an ugly crowd of Chinese. A mere accident started me on a few simple sleight-of-hand tricks. And when I had found- the grave and reverend headsman carrying dollars on_ the end of bis nose and hidden in his queue, that crowd had become a parcel of gay, laughing youngsters. No wonder Charlie Chaplin is so popular with the Chinese! Such • children, too, in their belief in the supernatural! Everyone knows the familiar “willow-pattern” plates and the cups. Do you 'notice how the little bridges go zigzag and the roof-eaves curve upwards? Typical Chinese architecture. They build like that because the evil spirits can follow one swiftly along a straight path, but they cannot get past curves. And it is that same fengsluii which has prevented the Chinese from sinking mines and developing their great, natural mineral wealth, though that sinister grip is being steadily loosened under Western impact. It is the West which lias brought about the present crisis. China, or rather a small section, is trying hard to adopt Western methods and customs. And we know what happens when we pour new wine into old wine skins. Never was such hidebound conservative folk as the Chinese. An American woman imported -? patent washtub and clothes-wringer. hoping to save a little of her linen from Chinese laundry destrucf.' n Ah-wong listened with great respect and interest to the explanations and instructions. He thoroughly agreed But next day there was Ah-wong as usual washing the .napkins to pieces on two stones in the yard. ‘Welly clever, foreign fashion! Veliy clever!” he said. “But gleat gleatgrandfather fashion belong much more clever.” Truthfulness, as a desirable virtue, seems unknown. An obvious barefaced lie is, to a Chinese, the best joke in the world, especially if you have been taken ia by it. Call upon a Chinese whom you have never seen, and he hii iself may meet you. at the door and tel! you that he is out. How, too. is one to combat “squeeze,” the great curse of China? Some £20.000 was set apart for the public lighting of a certain city. The Minister in charge took -just half as his commission. The Termanent Secretary, an equally important person, then took his hair and handed on the balance, £SOOO to his underlings. From grade to grade rhe over-decreasing balance descended’ until the remnant reached the eontractor. And as the sum now in hand was about 7-ld/ one of the office coolies was given the contract, with some instructions to provide some wick and <n plate of oil. This, wi th a rare touch of conscience, he did after deducting his 2d. A passing beggar, attracted by the unusual illumination; found the plate—and drank the oil.

- A trifle exaggerated, maybe, Hut in substance true. Yet the better one comes to know the real Chinese the more one respects and likes them as a splendid and lovable people. And since trust, straight-deal-ing and affection beget the' like in return, the Chinese trust and respect and honour the Englishman or Scotsman—if lie is of the right type.

RUMANIAN KING’S FATE,

(United Press Assn.—Copyright;) BERLIN, April 5. A message from Bucharest states that King Ferdinand is dying. He has taken no nourishment for 24 hours, and* lias been unconscious all night.—A.N.Z.C.A.