TROUBLE IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1927, Page 2

TROUBLE IN CHINA

'"Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

BRITISH PROPOSALS. PEKING. Jan. 28

Tho British are preparing to lay proposals before the Northerners as well as the Southerners, arguing that ns the Northerners have been prepared to act more moderately in advance towards national aspirations and have not proposed tearing up treaties m the case of some Southerners, the Northerners must lie granted all concessions made to Chen by O’Malley. A\ bile nothing official Is obtainable in this connection, it is believed it is proposed virtually to give up British concessions as such at Hankow, and Tentsin, and substitute a sort of iiiterliptional settlements, in which Chinese will have a very large voice oil the management. These territories would become somewhat like the ex-German concessions but apparently with saleguards regarding tiie efficient running of them and regarding foreign representation on the Council.

A. Japanese message I coin Peking states Sir Afiles Lampson informed Changtsolin and the Peking Government rh.it Britain had decided to put into operation a new China policy, including the return of all concessions, the recognition of Chinese tariff autonomy and requested the Sino Government to make preparations to take over the concessions without delay.

BRITAIN’S POLICY. LONDON. January 28. A "Times” correspondent. Air A.AI. Pooler, writing on the Chinese situation says: “ Though the policy Tillich the British Government has adopted is somewhat late in the day, it is sympathetic with Chinese national aspirations. The reasons why it was not expressed earlier are stated to he a fear of attempting to take sides in Chinese internal disputes. I hough this explanation is not altogether satisfactory, it must lie accepted lor what it is worth. The immediate problem with which the British interests in China are concerned is the extent' to which the British Government is prepared to go in its practical expressions of sympathy. Though there is no information officially in regard to the proposals nut forward by Air O’Alallev, it is understood that the (British Government are prepared to negotiate lor the retrocession of all the British extra-territorial settlements in China, with the exception of the international settlement at Shanghai, in connection | with the hitter the British Government is prepared to consider the establishing of a co-operative administration by the Chinese. A guarantee will also ho asked for more civilised methods of administration of the law, as in the case of Japan during the nineties. There is no doubt the Government is seized with a fear that in the event of an extension of trouble Japan might step in and assert in China the dominating position to which she aspired in the war time, and from which she withdrew after the Washington Conference. It can hardly he conceived that England’s and Japan’s economic position at present is not such as will permit of independent action. Not that such action would involve a. resumption of the Chinese commercial boycott from which Japan herself suffered most severely two years ago. The protest of British Labour against action in China need not lie seriously considered. It is more in the nature of blowing a kiss towards .Moscow than the result of a definite conviction. The importance of tho Chinese market for England is well recognised by the Labourites. If Mr Ramsay MacDonald were in office, he would have adopted the same measures. The British investments in China exceed one thousand million pounds sterling in value. The British shipping in China trade is more than treble that in the Australian trade.

“ It may be pointed out a policy to settle now. after the violence at Hankow. if taken to its logical conclusion, would result in the Chinese making other demands, affecting questions not purely of internal importance. If the concessions, [held by solemn treaties, arc scrapped in the face of the mob outbreaks, it is possible that the Chinese would be encouraged to extend their demands to other spheres—for example the rights of migration and of residence in the Dominions.

FIELD ARTILLERY. LONDON, January 28. A mechanized battery of eighteenpounder guns and also a battery of howitzer guns have been ordered to China. SOLDIERS FAR RAVELLED. LONDON. Jan. 29. Bands playing “Tipperary.” and “The Long, Long Trail.” with the Guardsmen themselves adapting the old singing of the song “Shanghai,” to “There’s u Silver Lining jn Shallg-hai-ee.” and being accompanied by enormous crowds, including their wives and children marching alongside, was the scene at the departure of the Coldstream Guards from the AVellington barracks. An old woman standing at AVestniilister Bridge handed out bunches of white heather. The battalion entrained at Waterloo Station, where .the crowds rushed the gates, pouring on to the platform for a final farewell. The onlookers roughly handled some Communists who were distributing pamphlets. The police than intervened.

The Coldstream Guards later sailed from Southampton by the “KinfiUin’s Castle.” |

The Middlesex Battalion paraded at Cnlterick in a snowstorm. They then arrived in London and hoarded the “Mermimis.” NEW BRITISH TERMS. LONDON, Jan. 29. Sir Austen Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham, announced the new terms which Britain lips offered to the Northern China and Cantonese Governments. These are:First: Britain was prepared to recognise modern Chinese law courts without the attendance of any British officials . as competent to deal with cases in which British people were concerned. Secondly: Britain was ready to apply in the British Courts in China the existing Chinese civil and commercial codes, and the sid>ordinate legislation, and she was '.also ready to go further than ibis when all the Chinese codes are complete. Thirdly: Britain is prepared to make British nationals in China liable to the regular Chinese taxation if it does not involve any discrimination against British subjects and goods, including the taxation under Chinese national tariff, when it is promulgated, thereby, as far as Britain is concerned, removing the last obstacle to full tariff autonomy.

LATEST BRITISH MOVE. TOKIO. January 29

The .Japanese press is featuring the alleged substance of a second British memortindum informally commanieated to Japan, suggesting the cancellation of the Chinese debts, the abolition of extraterritoriality, and the return of the concessions to China on the basis of inint Chinese-foriegn control. The debt suggestion is causing consternation in Japanese fiancial circles, in-as-much as China is Japan’s heaviest debtor. BRITISH ACTION UPHELD. TOKIO, January 29. M. Shidebara. the Japanese diplomat and .statesman, in a statement on the situation at Shanghai, says: “T think it impossible for the Briish to let matters go by Shanghai, where there are many British residents. My opinion is it i.s only proper and natural for Britain to take adequate steps in case of emergency. I cannot say that a British-Canton clash is coming, and I am confident that Britain does not desire a clash but i.- acting in the event of emergency and nothing else; and when the situation has been peace-

fully settled. I believe that Britain wilf send all her forces back to their original stations. There are no indication, at present, that Japanese lives and property are endangered. l“ e Canton officials and army are promising to afford them all necessary protection. Should danger arise, we shall resort to proper measures, but military preparations are not now necessaij, lest they cause needless harm.”