TROUBLE IN CHINA

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 5

TROUBLE IN CHINA

HOPES FOR SETTLEMENT.

BRITISH SATISFIED WITH AMERICAN STATEMENT. by cable-press association— copyright LONDON, Jan. 28. Official circles still insist that there is every ground for hope that the trouble' between Britain 'and! China may be settled by negotiations, which are being continued without a hitch with the Cantonese. Though the Foreign Office has not. received any reply from Chen to Britain’s definite proposals, it does not expect any for a few days. The Australian Press Association learns that the Foreign Office is anxious not to give offence to any Chinese party, or to appear to be backing any ‘particular party, as it is probabe in view of the future effective government of China that the Northern Government is receiving copies of everything going to Chen. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says that British official circles received the statement of Mr Frank Kellogg. American Secretary of State, with undisguised satis-

faction. It is considered that the conclusions arrived at separately are we I .] nigh identical in scope and purpose. Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland. British Minister for Labour. speaking at Shrewsbury. was questioned regarding China, and replied: “It might happen that a month hence 16.000 of our '< countrymen would be in. danger of * their lives. Thrn, if no precautions had been taken, the country would rise up against the Government and 6nv ‘You had warning. Now it is too 'ate.' T he Government is not going to run, the same risk as in the ease of Gordon at Khartoum.” ANYTHING MIGHT HAPPEN. OPINION OF RETURNED MISSIONARY. PRAISE FOR HEROIC MARINES. BRISBANE, Jan. 28. The Rev. B. JtSurgoyne UUapman, a missionary, wlo is tne principal oi 'the Uentral china Teachers’ College at Haniiow, lias arrived at Cairns by the steamer Taiping. He said the anti-Bri-tish movement it growing in intensity, and anytning may happen at any moment, resulting from tne action or some violent agitator or ili-contioiled soldier. •‘lt looks as though the generous proposals of the British Government just L .uolished will not be listened to with an open mind,” he stated. Mr. Chapman blames the Soviet influence for the trouble, and says a very high official of the Cantonese Government told him in all sincerity that the levoiutionary elements were not anti-Christian or anti-foreign. They had been let loose and for the present were beyond oonAi rot her passenger states that half naked Chinese would throw themselves against the marines and dare the marines to .shoot them. The Chinese wouid lu in the marines’ faces; yet the latter stood without firing a shot He says the evacuation of Hankow was carried out without as much danger as there might have been if the mar- < ines had not performed heroic',work and ► refrained from firing. There would then have been a great massacre. JAPANESE STEAMERS. CHARTERED FOR TRANSPORTS. Received 9.50 a.m. to-day. TOKIO, Jan. 28. Press reports state that London interests are chartering five Japanese steamers now in Indian waters, for use as transports. The first is deliverable to the charterers early in February, either at Calcutta or Singapore. —Sydney Sun Cable.