SHANGHAI STRIKERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 162, 12 June 1925, Page 5

SHANGHAI STRIKERS

SHOOTING OF RIOTERS. INSTRUCTIONS TO POLICE. (By Electrio Telegraph.— Copyright.) Received June 12, 9.10 a.m. PEKIN, June 11. Tho trial of seventeen persons arrested in connection with the recent riots in- Shanghai is proceeding. An English missionary, who was an eye witness, considered that shooting tya.s unavoidable under the circumstances.

, Two American missionaries who also were eye witnesses, considered that the police were not justified in firing. The victims were only sympathetically demonstrating in favour of the imprisoned students.

Inspector Everson, who ordered the firing, said that the crowds were absolutely uncontrollable. Asked by the Chinese magistrate if firing against the legs of the crowd would not have sufficed, he replied that it was contrary to his instructions, which were to fire only as a last resort and then to shoot to kill.

A quantity of Bolshevist literature seized at tho Shanghai University was admitted as evidence.—Reuter.

NOTE TO THE DIPLOMATS. Received June 12, 12.5 p.m. * PEKIN, June 11. Six hundred students, led by Pekin agitators, demonstrated at Mukden, whereupon the Education Bureau warned the students not to harm foreigners nor cause disorders.

The students’ efforts to cause a general strike failed, owing to the official precautions. The situation in the French Concession to-day was distinctly easier. Cabinet decided to agree to the application of the demonstrators yesterday to send 100,000 dollars to Shanghai for the relief of tho unemployed. The American gunboat Pampanga, convoying the Canton Christian College supply launch, was fired on near Whampoa. The Pampanga returned the fire. There were no casualties.

The trial of seventeen arrested persons has concluded. Accused were ordered to furnish a bond guaranteeing their good behaviour. The American assessor, Mr Jacobs, deeply regretted the case, which had much embittered foreign relations.

There was no demonstration ns the crowded court was heavily guarded by police in an armoured car. A Note to the diplomats takes cognisance of the fact that the Powers view tlie incident in the same conciliatory spirit as the Chinese Government, and that instructions have been given to the police of the international settlement to cease to use their arms. The Note goes on to insist that the steps taken by tlie authorities of the settlement to hinder the .pacific sudent demonstration were badly devised, and denies that there was a state of imminent danger to which the Powers’ communication referred.

The Note adds: “The Concession authorities have not disarmed the students, therefore, they are responsible for the deplorable events. The Government views with indignation the state of affairs prevailing to-day throughout the country and begs to give general advice to the Concession authorities which the latter should follow—to raise the state of siege, re-em-bark the marines, disarm the volunteers and police, free those arrested, and restore the occupied schools for the restoration of order in Shanghai, with the briefest possible delay.” The Note asks the Ministers to instruct the Consular officers accordingly.—Reuter. COMPULSORY CONTRIBUTIONS. PEKIN, June 10. _ Students and pupils from the American missionary institutions are picketing all streets and compelling Chinese pedestrians each to contribute 30 cents towards the Shanghai strikers’ support. A demonstration of students, workers and others at the city gate, numbering 75,000, carried resolutions urging the Government to send troops to Shanghai, take back the foreign concession and recall the British and Japanese consuls. Five thousand demonstrators subsequently marched to the Foreign Ministry, where deputations presented these resolutions. Being dissatisfied with the Minister’s replies, they smashed several windows and did other damage. They then visited Tuan-ehi-jui, and made similar demands, and received a promise that they would be placed before Cabinet to-morrow. No attempts liave been made so for to molest any foreigners at Pekin.— A. and N.Z. cable. CHINESE VESSELS. SAILINGS SUSPENDED. Received June 12. 9.10 a.m. PEKIN, June 11. The China Merchants’ Steamship Company, a Chinese concern, lias suspended its sailings indefinitely. Some of the other shipping companies have ordered their vessels to other ports.— Reuter.