A Settlement.

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1927, Page 3

A Settlement.

AT HANKOW. THE TERAIS. SHANGHAI, Feb. 21. A settlement has been reached at Hankow by Air Eugene Chen and Air O’Alalley. It covers both Hankow and Kiukiang. lhe agreement provides for a dissolution of the British municipality on March 15, whereupon administration of the concession area will be formally handed over to the new Chinese municipality. Aleanwhile the policing of the Concession and the management of public works and sanitation are to be conducted by the Chinese authorities. The Nationalist Government will set up special Chinese Alunicipality administrative regulations, which will be communicated to His Majesty’s Minister by the Nationalist Afinistcr of Foreign Affairs, the regulations remaining in force until the conclusion of negotiations for the amalgamation of the five Hankow concessions into one unified municipal district. The agreement relative to the British Concession at Kiukiang is on sim-

r lines to the Hankow settlement. If any direct losses due to the action or culpable negligence of agents of the Nationalist Government are suffered bv British subjects during the recent disturbances at Kiukiang, such losses will be compensated by the Nationalist Government. GENERAL PEACE. FOR BRITISH INTERESTS. LONDON, Feb. 21. It should he remembered that the Hankow agreement does not represent only a little local settlement. Offic.ia l

circles point out that contact will be retained with the Cantonese for the discussion of details arising from the Han kow agreement, and do not conceal a genuine desire that it will show the way to a. peaceful settlement of all Anglo Chinese questions on a liberal basis, •vith Chen, also Koo (Pekin Foreign mister) and anyone else who may es tablish a firm authoritative Government in China. CANTON ATTITUDE. NOT TO USE FORCE AGAINST FOREIGNERS. SHANGHAI, Feb. 21. Referring to the Hankow agreement :he Nationalist Government communique says, inter alia, the policy of th“ Nationalist Govern in ent is not to use force or countenance the use of force to effect a change in the status of any or all the Concessions and international settlements. The Nationalist Government has laid down changes in the status of the Concessions by international settlements, wherever situated in China. These are of such vital importance that no local Nationalist Government can negotiate with the foreign Powers concerned in respect of them. BRITAIN'S NEGOTIATIONS. WITH NORTHERN WAR LORDS. LONDON, Feb. 21. It is learned from authoritaitve quar tors that the first fruit of the Hankow Agreement appeared in Northern, and not Southern, China. Britain through out treated both the claimant Chinese Governments alike. All her offers t«i re-organise the basis of her relations with China were equally simultaneously made to both Chen in the South and Wellington Koo (Chang Tso Lin’s Foreign Minuter) in the North, therefore' throughout Air O’Alalley’s Negotiations with Chen, exactly similar offers were made to the Northern Government.

Hitherto, Wellington Koo has con tented himself with objecting to oui iations with Chen, but yesterda; he summoned Sir AL Lampson, intimat ■; that he was now ready to begin conversations on the basis of the British offer. These at present have not taken the form of concrete negotia tions regarding the specific concession, such as Teintsin. It will be left to Wellington Koo to choose the subject of the preliminary discussions. This development can be properly attributed to Wellington Koo’s desire not to remain behind Chen in the conclusion of a reformed Anglo-Chinese agreement in accordance with the Chinese people’s legitimate demands that they be masters of their own household, and not continue special privileges for fore’’gn ers in their midst.

Reign of Terror.

BY NORTHERN MILITANTS. SLAUGHTER IN SHANGHAI ST RETS. SHANGHAI, Feb. 21. It is impossible to drive outside the settlement, or even on the settlement boundaries, without seeing most revolting sights. Heads still bleeding are stuck on poles, nailed to walls, or placed in small baskets like chicken coops. The exact number executed is unavailable, because the military never make a report. They just shoot, and behead the agitator where he stands, and leave the body for the relatives to find.

Dripping heads are hanging from most of the gates. However, this is affecting the strikers more than the. leaders, who are mostly directing affairs from the settlement. It is estimated that those executed are between thirty and one. hundred. Refugees are crowding into the foreign settlement. The strikers are somewhat subdued by the wholesale decapitations of agitators or those suspected by Sun Chuan Fang’s officials in the native city, where there is a veritable reign of terror. WANTS TO BEHEAD MORE. SUN CHUAN FANG’S BLOOD LUST. SHANGHAI, Feb. 21. An awkward situation has arisen owing to the demand of Sun Chuan Fang’s headquarters that the provisional Chinese Court in the International settlement hand over fifty persons, charged with assault on Saturday and Sunday, Io be. dealt with by the military. The Chinese Judge, realising that this would mean execution, finally remanded the case. If he decides to hand over, and the accused are executed there is certain to be a Nationalist outcry 1 against the Tnter.mtional settlement authorities, iv’. o are mostly British, for arresting th.; LL-acse. Moreover, the

knowledge that any Chinese whom they irrcst for a comparatively minor offence may lie executed, is creating :i difficult problem for the British po ice. THE STRIKE. 10S, (>OO ()FT IN SIIA NG lIA I. SIIANGHAT, Feb. 21. Four thousand employees of the largest publishing house in China, the Comnercial Press, walked out. while Chinese papers are suspended, allegedly owing bo the strike, but really because they fear their news and comments will incur the displeasure of the authorities on the )ne hand, and the strikers on the othThe strike situation is not much changed. The strikers number 108,000, mostly belonging to cotton mills. If the postmen picket persist in preventing the inside staff of the Post Office working, as they continue to do, it is expected that an action of protest from those desiring to work will be taken. FOREIGN FORCES. MORE REACH CHINA. (Recd. Feb. 22 at 8.15 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Fel». 21. The second battalion of the Suffolks have arrived here. Meanwhile. the Punjabis are returning to Hongkong. The Suffnlks complrle an Iml ion bri gade■of ab ou t four a n • I a ha 1 f theus and men The Punjabis comprise part of the regular Hongkong garrison. They ('aim here merely as a precautionary meas ure until the arrival of the others. a Japanese cruiser and four destroy-

ers have arrived here, with three hun died marines. Three American destroyers are due a 1 any moment from Manila and the tranc port Chaumont, carrying twelve hun <lr< d marines, from San Diego, is due oi February 24th.

Northern Defeat.

ARMY NO GOOD. SHANGHAI, Feb. 21. Latest information from the front is that Sun Chuan Fang’s army is definitely abandoning the Kashing line, and is falling back on Sungkiang. which means the evacuating of Chekiang. It is known that there are dissensions among Sun’s Generals, and that troops though well paid, fed and equipped, have not the heart for fighting. Chang Sun Chang has not yet sent assistance. It is reported he has gone to Pekin t< confer with ( hang Tso Lin. Altogether the outlook for Sun i« gloomy.