CRISIS IN CHINA

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 April 1927, Page 5

CRISIS IN CHINA

A LONE HAND.

AMERICA’S POLICY.

TROOPS TO RE KEPT APA RT. BY CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPY RIGHT. WASHINGTON. March 30. As the hue of his policy is to get into no unnecessary entanglement in China, President Ooolidge has decided that the United States will play a lone hand, according to an announcement at White House. The American forces, therefore, will not he merged with the troops ot the other Powers. - America wishes at the earliest possible moment to be in readiness to deal in a friendly manner with any constituted authority in China. THE YANGTSE VALLEY. EVACUATION PROCEEDING. BRITAIN TO HOI/D TERRITORIES. SHANGHAI, March 30. The evacuation of British and American missionaries from the Yangtse Valley is gradually being completed. Approximately 100 have refused to leave; the remainder are either en route or will shortly be leaving. The American Chamber of Commerce at Hankow, which asked for additional protection, has been officially notified that, it should evacuate. Intense activity is still being displayed bv the general labour union in Shanghai*. It has decided .to order another general .strike, at a date to be fixed later. The Governor has issued a communication that his Maestv’s Government will give the fullest protection to Hong Kong, and the mainland territories, during the civil war now raging, and that it has no intention of surrendering Hong Kong _or abandoning its rights, and authority in any .part of the adjacent mainland territories under British administration. THE FRENCH ATTITUDE. A CANTONESE AFFRONT. SHANGHAI, March 30. There is increased uneasiness on the part of the residents in the French concession owing to a mob, which included some Cantonese soldiers, attempting to invade the boundary. A French" policeman was forced to draw his revolver wounding a Contonese, _but the mob calmly rooted up the iron gates at the entrance to the concession and carried them off. This contemptous action created a stir in the settlement, as the military authorities have not yet been empowered to take over the defence of the concession, although unofficially British and American outposts are ready to take up positions on the French and native boundary. French authorities continue to minimise the incidents, adopting the attitude that they are not willing to meet trouble half-way, but- prefer to wait until comething serious happens.

THE SITUATION REVIEWED. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 29. The situation at Shanghai is Tepoi.. a* to be quite at present, although agitators show considerable activity. It is understood that French and American reinforements are being Lo, representing the Southern Chinese, visited Admiral Williams yesterday. The situation on the Yangtsze is uncertain and menacing. The British authorities have decided to evacuate all the British at Ichang, on the Yangtsze River, 165 miles west of Hankow ; at Changsha, 100 miles south-east of Ichang; and at Chungking, on the Yangtsze River, 830 miles above Hankow. The women and children have already been taken away from these towns.* and for the past few days the men have been collected in buildings on the river front. The present decision is not due to anv definite new threat. The local Chinese are being informed, and advised that they will be held responsible for the safety of British property. The British naval forces at _ these ports are the gunboats Mantis' Widgeon and Teal, at Chungking; Woodcock, at Changsha.; and Gnat at Ichang. Other information from the Yangtsze is that at Chungking there is increasing extremist activity, notwithstanding the Chinese direction to suppress it. At Shashi the gunboat Cockchafer ordered Cantonese soldiers to disembark from a British steamer which they had boarded. When the gunboat arrived the solTTiers declared that they were only visitors.

At Hankow, where the river is rising, the strike is still unsettled, and the foreign ..banks are closed. At Wuhii the women and children have been evacuated and the men concentrated in hulks in the stream. A boycott is threatened, and the situation is uncertain. At Kiukiang, as compensation is being naid for commandeering the British "steamer Kiankwo, the arms and ammunition which were left on board have been returned to the commissioner for foreign nffiars. Above Nanking firing occasionally takes place in Hsaikwan, but the shins have not been under rifle fire, and the situation is improving. The Chinese Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, who has been appointed, expressed a desire to call on the cruiser Frnerald. where the wounded British Consul-General ’and certain menders of the Chinese Customs and British firms remain. "Rifle firing at foreign ships helow Nanking is increasing, esnecia ly at Tviangvin. Tnngc.how and Vinepoint.

BRITISH ACTION. IM PORT ANT DEV FLO P I ENT IMMINENT. LONDON, March 30. An important China, development is imminent. T.he Government has discussed the question of the domains to lie put before the Cantonese* author ities, probably in conjunction wit Japan and America, including compel' sation for the Nanking outrages. CANTON TRADES CONFERENCE AUSTRALIAN PASSPORTS REFUSED. SYDNEY, March 31 The Federal Government has refuse*! to grant pass-ports to Mr Garden anJ other members of the Trades TJnio • mission to the congress of the trade unions being held at Canton on Me j 1.