GENERAL STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 19 June 1925, Page 5

GENERAL STRIKE

KEPT UP IN CHINA Shipping Held Up ; PEKIN, June 17. 1 The .shipping .strike is not loosening. Phirt y-thrcc British and nwie IJu ihi nose sterna | | Japanese steamers are tied up. All Mie Shanghai wharves are idle, but some w. rk is going on on the I’ootung si**- of the river. Well informed Chinese expect the nativ e batiks to re-open on. Friday, which is the most favourable local feature . The strike leaders are engaged in endeavouring to influence the official negotiations. They arc circulating incessant rumours that the foreigners are giviuig way to the Chinese demands. At Kiukiang, the situation is casing. The gates of the concession are open to legitimate traffic. The Chinese au thorities are demonstrating a desire to maintain order. The position at Wuhu, Chianhieug, and Nanking remained unchanged . At Amoy and Foochow, agitators are active, but there arc no disturbances. A committee .of the students, mer chants educationalists and labourers’ emergency organisation sent out circular telegrams all over the country, requesting the closing of factories, shops, schools and Government departments, and half-masting the flags «>on, as a sign of mourning for tho student martyrs, and expression of opposition tr Imperialism. , Japanese reports state that after the student demon.-trations, four thousand workmen at the railway engineering works, Tongshan Pekin-Mukden line, walked out. The cotton mills tvnd the coal mines so far are not affected. CHINESE DEMAND FOR WAR ON BRITAIN. PEKIN, June 17. A Japanese semi-official news :u'eney reports that sixty representatives of the leading organisations have interviewed the War Minister and submitted the following demands: — Firstly, severance of diplomatic relations with Britain. Secondly, the despatch of Chinese troops to all the commercial ports for the protection of Chinese subjects. Thirdly', a declaration of war against Britain. The Minister replied that their wis. est policy' was to confine th » r activities to peaceful patriotic movements, and await the self-awakening of the foreigners, but if tho worst cattle, the Government, would not act contrary' Io the expectations of the people, Roports from Shanghai state Constable Gavan, a Britisher, while dis. persing a mob of strikers, chased their student ringleaders into an alleywny, and was then attacked by' a hostile crowd with choppers and other weapons, being severely wounded. He lv n? rescued in an unconscious condition, taken tn the hospital and operated on and is expected to recover.

BRITISH NAVAL MOVE. LONDON, June 16 The Foreign Office has made representations to the Admiralty re the British warships in Chinese water. (6 cruisers, 4 sloops, 12 submarines, and some river craft) .The Australian cruiser Brisbane is at WeihaiwoA NTI-FORKIG N ]•" EE LING. STILL GROWING. (Received June 18 at 8.40 p.m.) PEKING, June 17. i A further note on behalf of the interested foreign Powers lias been handed to Waichiapu, calling China’s attention to tthe fact that since the previous Powers’ note, new ami grave incidents have occurred at Shanghai and in other localities, including the shooting of a British subject, and the wounding of a lady accompanying him. The note adds: “But, from all sides, we arc informed thnit, the antiforeign sentiment is developing, which causes us grave apprehension. Wishing- above all, to dispel every cause which might impair cordial relations between China and the foreign Governments we urge upon the Chinese Government the imperative necessity of taking steps incumbent upon it to meet the grave situation.’’

CANTON REFORMS. PEKIN, Juno 17: After the victory over the Yunnanese mercenaries, the authorities at Shanghai claim that they disarmed fourteen thousand mercenaries. An important meeting at the Kuonientang headquarters decided on the abolition of the civil governorship, and placing the Government hi the hands of a commission of seven. As regards finance, all funds are to go through the Civil Treasury, the military commanders being forbidden to levy taxes. Many of tho present taxes are to be abolished. The authorities expect to meet expenditure without gambling revenue. Gambling houses will consequently be suppressed, and opium suppression will be enforced.