DEFENCE OF SHANGHAI

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 10 March 1927, Page 5

DEFENCE OF SHANGHAI

A MISSIONARY’S OPINION. CHINESE SELF-GOVERNMENT. REPUBLIC WILL NOT LAST. BY CABLE- PRESS ASSOCIATION -COPYRIGHT Received 10.30 a.m. to-day. PARIS, March 9. A French missionary, M. Robert, who has spent 40 years in China, expresses the opinion that 3000 Europeans would have no difficulty inj defending Shanghai against 60,000 Chinese. A wave of xenophobia would render the Chinese even less fit for self-government thaw at present. The republic would not be likely to endure; even Sun Ynt Sen could only maintain a republic based on Imperialsm. Combined European action was essential for the restoration of order.

QUIET IN CHINA. CHANG MAKING OVERTURES. REHABILITATION OF THE COUNTRY. BRITAIN’S NEUTRALITY EMPHASISED. LONDON, March 8. The Foreign. Office reports that all is quiet in China. There are no .serious incidents anywhere, and it is unable to A confirm the reported reign of terror at / Ningpo, where' it is alleged, following anti-foreign and anti-British demonstrations. a Chinese mob attempted to capture British and American missionaries and nurses. Official circles, though unable to confirm the report that Chang-tso-lin is making overtures to the Canton'&se, with.a view to suspension of hostilities, if the Cantonese’ will abandon their ■Soviet advisors and show their willingness to ioin forces to discuss the rehabilitation of the .new China, does not discount the report, pointing out that the chief feature of Chinese internal hostilities is the bargaining between the contending generals. Incidentally, official circles are anxious to deny the suggestion that the British are in any way supporting Chang. It is emphasised that Britain is scrupulously neutral. Well-informed quarters point out that Chang is one of the greatest ‘.scoundrels in China.” It is even admitted that the Cantonese capture of Shanghai, which is now regarded as inevitable, will in no way prejudice British interests there, any more than capture bvj Chang, despate Cantonese anti-fore ign and anti-British sentiments. Official reports received m London i show that Chang, after arresting and releasing Madame Borodin, wife of the Russian adviser to the Cantonese forces, have now re-arrested her as well as her three male Jewish companion*. RUMOUR DENIED. NO ARMED CHINESE FORCE'S IN SEITLEM.ENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 8. The statement that General Ohang-Chung-Ch-ang had established his headquarters behind the lines of the Shanghai international .settlement, held by the British Defence Force, and that he had troops within the .settlement cordon,! was denied in. the House ot Commons by Mr. Locker Lampson. He said that til ere were no Chinese armed forces whatsoever within the international settlement. Cliiiie.se entering the .settlement were disarmed.

Answering a question relating to the origin of the settlement, Mr. Locker Lampoon recalled that the treaty of 1843, having stipulated that a portion should be set apart for the residence of British traders, an area for British settlement was marked out in that year by the local authorities at Shanghai. Similar areas were set apart for the . French and the Americans, who enjoyed the same treaty rights. The British settlement was subsequently thrown open to all nationalities and amalgamated' with the American settlement, and so became an international 'Settlement. The land regulations under which the international .settlement was administered. could be amended or added to by agreement between the local Chinese authorities and the consular body at Shanghai, subject to confirmation by their respective Governments. Mr Locker Lampson added that negotiations are at present in progress for the addition of Chinese members to the municipal council. The British consular flag was rehoisted ashore over the consular buildings at Kinkiang. and a reception, attended by the Chinese authorities, was held. The consulate offices re-opened to-day. OPPOSITION TO USE! OF SOLDIERS LABOUR EXPLAINS ITS ATTITUDE LONDON, March 8. In the House of Commons Captain LI. D. Ring (Conservative), introducing a supplementary vote of £950,000 for the j Shanghai defence force, said that within days of the calling up notices the first transport was en route. Mr. J. R. dynes (Labour) complained of misrepresentation of Labour’s attitude regarding China.. The Opposiview was that the Government’s choice was between far-seeing statesmanship and the dangerous, futile use of soldiers. The Government had reached a stage where it wanted to show fight and lxegotiate at the same time. Labour was as concerned as anyone in the safety of British lives and property in China, but believed that special expeditions in the early stages of negotiations were provocative .and unnecessary and obstructed prospects ot a, settlement. He denied that Labour had ever sought to enter into negotiations with the Chinese. Germany’s and Russia’s abandonment to territorial rights had not affected their trade. If, as some suggested, our trade was on the decline in China, due to Russian agitation, it was so much the worse if our reputation could not withstand Russian propaganda. Labour would oppose the vote as unnecessarily provocative and harmful. Colonel J. C. Wedgwood (Labour) agreed that the British Government had been strictly impartial in China but urged the recognition of the Cantonese, because they were less militaristic, more democratic ami inspired by higher ideals than the other Chinese parties. Mr, H. Dalton (Labour) said it should be a recognised policy that people investing capital outside the Em--idre did so 'at their own risk. _ * Sir L. Worthington-Evans. in replying, .said that nothing could be worse than to send an inadequate force_to protect our people at Shanghai. The • Government were advised that the

steps taken were 'adequate, but not excessive. The vote was carried by 303 votes to 124. FOREIGN MISSION WORK. Thr-KUKACIi — PttiSßd ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND. March 9. Foreign mission work occupied the attention of the Methodist Comerence today. The financial statement of the Methodist Foreign Mission Society for the year ended December 31. 1926, stated that expenditure in the Solomon Islands district totalled £14,985 and £1357 in the New Zealand office, mak-ing-..a total, with sundry payments, of £17,008. The total income was £15,670, leaving a deficit of £I3BB. The income on the capital account was £2344. The module from the Banya plantation account totalled £9319. The estimated income of the Solomon Islands Mission for 1927 was .shown as £17,000, of which New Zealand was estimated to contribute £13,000 and the Solomon Islands £4OOO. Reference was made to the splendid response of young people to the call for missionary work, and it was stated that out of 12 eauditates for the ministry this year, five bad offered themselves for .service in the mission field. The report of the Methodist Women’s Missionary Union .stated that there were 38 'affiliated auxiliaries, with a total membership of 2411 out of a total church women membership of 15.000. The treasurer stated that the receipts for the year were £3431, an increase of £195. It was decided to devote Sunday, May 22. as a special missionary day throughout the churches, when appropriate sermons will be given and lectures delivered to Bible classes. A week of thanksgiving will be observed, prior to this special day.