REIGN OF TERROR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 February 1927, Page 5

REIGN OF TERROR

IN NATIVE CITY

EXECUTIONS IN SHANGHAI. ANTI-RED RUTHLESSNESS. GENERAL STRIKE ON THE WANE. BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—-COPYRIGHT Received 10.45 a.m. to-day. PEKING, Fob. 22. The semi-lawful massacre of Chinese which is being carried out in. the native city of Shanghai by the Chinese military for the purpose of suppressing the Red agitation strikers is shocking the community, due to the ruthlessness employed by the native soldiery and police, who are practically murdering scores who are suspected of agitating or supporting the Cantonese movement. Not since the Spanish Inquisition has a city the size of Shanghai witnessed the scenes being enacted daily. The heartless executioners have completely terrorised the natives, who fear to venture abroad lest they will be suspeeted. The executioners are merciless, walking in squads, and arresting students, Labour agitators, union delegates and strikers, a nil executing them immediately without trial. Youths were dragged from- the arms of their mothers and their heads lopped off while the screaming mothers struggled and were hacked to pieces. Escapees were shot while escaping. The executions are being carried out with the intention of counteracting the Canton movement, which was intended to embarrass Sun Chuan Fang in defence of Shanghai. The general strike is on the wane and the workers are returning to the international settlement. The authorities are not interfering, appreciating the display of force, though regretting the bloodshed. Under the circumstances there is hardly a whisper of protest from the Chinese.

Widespread indignation is expressed at the decapitation of the Chinese editor of the English printed newspaper, following the publication of Sun Chuan Fang's reserves in the fighting with the Cantonese. The editor was kidnapped a fortnight ago from the international settlement in daylight by Chinese soldiers and carried to the native territory. Warrants have been issued for many prominent Cantonese. The reign of terror prevails as the only preventative of mob riots similar to those at Hankow.

Sun Chuan Fang has succeeded in checking the Cantonese advance at Hashing, 70 miles south-west, and the Nationalists ' occupation of-Shanghai is stayed.

BIG GUNS BOOM HEARD AT SHANGHAI. SHELLS FALL IN FRENCH CONCESSION. STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED Received 9. 55 a.m. to-day. >rt,vi\D ttA l. Feo. 22. L The unbroken boom or heavy guns is audible from the joreign .leDtiement, and shells led in the Ere noli concession. Many-inhabitants bed Horn their homes to the international settlement, there were no foreign casualties. A state oi emergency was declared and all forces are standing by. All the lining is from the south in the direction of the native city. It is not certain whether the Cantonese have arrived, or whether the defenders have mutineed or whether native .riots art' -Saking place. Eight hundred) Suffolk® have landed land are occupying the quarters of the Punjabis on the racecourse. The latter have gone to Hangkong. The problem of providing space for the British troops, which threatened to become acute has been satisfactorily solved. In order to avert possible protests from other nationals against troops being quartered in international property, only British property-has. so far, been used. This meant much congestion and restriction, for apart from the racecoure, there is not much exclusively British-owned space in Shanghai available for soldiers. The British ConsulGeneral applied to the municipality for -permission to use Jessfield Park for quartering the troops. The municipality not only agreed, but intimated that all municipal property would be placed at the disposal of the defence forces, if required. The decision i.s expressive, of the deep gratitude of all nationalists for the protection and presence of British troops. BRITAIN’S AIM. TREATIES BY NEGOTIATIONS. EQUALITY AND REC IPROCITY. LONDON. Feb. 21. In the House of Commons, Sir Austen Chamberlain, replying to a series oi questions relating to China, said Britain's 'aim was to negotiate treaties on a basis leading ultimately to complete equality arid reciprocity. The new administrative body at Hankow would be modelled on the existing one and would consist of both Chinese and British, the Chinese having the casting vote. In this respect it would he .a. similar hodv •• to that at Kiukiang. He had no definite news what arrangements. the Peking Government_wn> making to collect customs, hut the Cantonese disputed Peking’s tight to exorcise authority belonging to the Central Government. . Britain’s recent prooos'ils to China provided that. Britoms there would he li able to such regular Chinese taxation, not involving diwrimiination against British, subjects and goods, a.s was in fact imposed upon Chinese citizens throughout China., Dealing with the position in °‘ lK ' around Shanghai. Sir Austen .said the •latest reports .showed that Sun Chum Fang’s troops were evacuating Hangchow, but at present there was. no confirmation that tli n Cantonese bad occupied the eitv. It was believed t "at Sun Chuan Fang intended to l occupy a defensive position based on Kia.sbing. 55 miles from Shanghai. The general strike involving the I ost Office, essential services and the cotton

mill*, .began on February 19. The movement was reported to be spreading, but at present there was little disorder. He was .satisfied that British lives and pioperty would be sufficiently protected in wild the circumstance* which were considered within the bounds of possibility. NEGOTIATIONS OYER. HANKOW. In a later statement, Sir Austen Chamberlain outlined the terms of the Hankow agreement, in which connection Air. Eugene die it wrote to Alt'. O’Malley intimating the promulgation of certain .regulations, the term* or which the Foreign Office was at present not aware. Mr. O’ Mia!ley had leplied assuring Air. Chen that Britain would do all in her power to assure the successful operation of the scheme, adding that SO' far as the British authorities were concerned the Chinese citizens would enjoy the same rights as British subjects in the area. Mr. Chen had replied that the Chinee authorities, on their part, would do the same, and there would be no discrimination against interests in the district. Air. Chen proceeded to make a lengthy declaration concerning the settlement of the outstanding questions with the foreign Powers by negotiation and agreement. This implicity applied, •and was intended to apply, to changes in the status of the concessions and international settlements, and necessarily meant that the Nationalist Government policy was not to use force or countenance its use. But the Nationalists laid it down that the changes were of such vital importance that no local or other Chinese authorities except the Nationalist 'Government could negotiate with foreign Powers in respect thereto. Air. reply, taking note of the foregoing, especially Hie final clause, .said that His Majesty’s Government could not bind itself to refuse to enter into negotiations with Chinese officials in any part of China in regard to. matters arising in areas where such, officials are actually exercising de facto authority. Sir Austen Chamberlain said lie was not certain whether this was embodied in a letter or .in a. declaration. Air Chen earlier announced that the modification of the original plan for concentrating British forces at Shanghai was'regarded by the Nationalist Government as a concession which made dt possible to sign the Hankow agreement.

Mr. Clhen added : “But as this is without legal justification the Nationalist Government protested against the landing and trespass of British troops at Shanghai, even, for .strictly limited purposes.

It was stated bv Sir Austen Chamberlain that Mr. Clhen further declared that the Hankow settlement was not intended to serve as a precedent, for the future satus of any British or other concession.

Sir Austen said he had instrubted Mr CUMaliley to make it clear to Mr. Olien that- the British reserved full power to dispose of troops .as. •niia.y be necessary for the protection of British lives at Shanghai. Mr. J. R. dynes thanked Sir A. Chamberlain for the statement and welcomed the announcement that the outstanding questions would be settled by negotiation. Mr. Lloyd George offered his- warmest congratulations and iasked whether negotiations had been opened, either with Peking or the local authorities. SHANGHAI CONCESSION.

In respect to the Shanghai concession Sir Austen, Chamberlain said negotiations had been opened with .the Peking Government, to whom Sir Miles Lampson had made a dedlairation similar to that made to Mr. dien, at the same time reserving the right to negotiate with <le facto authorities in any part of China. Wo could not deal with the Shanghai intematioiiia'l settlement in the same way as we could with tin concessions belonging to us. Mr. IT Thurtle saked : “Will Hr Government suggest to other Powers that they nppo’nb plenary representatives to consider what steps might he taken tin case certain ovenlnullities arise?”

Sir Au*ton Chamberlain replied: “The less said about eventualities, which we hope may not arise, the bettor.” REVOLTING SCENES. DEALING WITH AGITATORS. SHANGHAI. Fell. 21. ft is impossible to drive outside the settlement;, or even o,n the settlement boundaries, without seeing the most revolting sights. Heads, still bleeding, are. stuck on poles, nailed to the walls, or paced in small baskets like chicken coops. The exact number executed is nilavailable, because the military never make a report, but just shoot a id behead an agitator where he stands, and leave the "’body for the relatives to find,