HANKOW QUIET

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 57, 4 February 1927, Page 7

HANKOW QUIET

POSSIBLE 1 SOLUTION OF DEADLOCK

TROOPS NO FURTHER THAN HONG KONG

CHANCE FOR REASONABLENESS

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received February 4, 9.50 a.m. SHANGHAI, Feb. 2. Hankow is outwardly calm despite the abrupt termination of the negotiations, on which all hopes for an amicable settlement had been pinned for three weeks.

Chen’s declaration is regarded as a confession of failure to win over the extremists to a moderate view.

While it is recognised that Britain is scarcely likely to withdraw from the position taken up with regard to the despatch of troops, a possible solution of the present deadlock is seen in a suggestion which is finding favour in many quarters : that the expedition should uot/proceed further than Hoim-Kong. This, it is pointed out, would “save the face” all round without endangering the British position at Shanghai and, at the same time, give Cljen and the moderates a chance to make a final bid for reasonableness on the part of the hitherto irreconcilable.? in the Kuonnngtang party.

It is also felt that Britain’s case would be made clearer and stronger if the next draft agreement were published.

Mr O’Malley, in communicating the proposals to Chen, pointed out that when a settlement had been reached with regard to the Hankow and Kiu-kiang concessions, by negotiation, Britain would be prepared to accede at least part of the Nationalists’ desires. —-A. and N.Z. cable.

OFFICIAL CONTRADICTION. NEGOTIATIONS NOT FINISHED. BRITAIN WILL DEFEND NATIONALS. LONDON, Feb. 2. It is untrue to say that negotiations at Hankow have broken down. They are broken off, as the agreement previously being discussed has taken a new turn. Chen’s protest against the dispatch of troops brings to the lorefront the conversations with Air O’Alalley on the question ol the defence of our nationals in Shanghai. This is how official circles interpret Chen’s latest move. it is learned that there is not the least likelihood of any modification of Britain’s determination to defend her citizens in Shanghai. There cannot be any question ot stopping or turning back the military forces. Official circles do not expect that Chen will maintain the protest. The Foreign Office has issued the full text of Britain’s terms to North China and the Cantonese Governments. In addition to the proposals mentioned by Sir Austen Chamberlain, Britain indicated that she was prepared to recognise the validity of a reasonable Chinese nationality law, also to accept the principle that British. missionaries should no longer claim the.right to purchase land, that Chinese converts should rely for protection on Chinese law, and not on treaties, and that the missionary, educational and medical institutions should conform to Chinese regulations. Official circles emphasise that there is not the least foundation for Chen’s accusation that the dispatch of a British force had produced conditions under which he was asked to negotiate “with a revolver at his head.” “Britain,” it is pointed out, has not taken, and does not intend to take, any military steps whatever against either Pekin or the Cantonese Governments. It is recognised that the Cantonese Government does not contemplate ail attempt to capture Shanghai by force, hut in view of events at Hankow and the looting of Kiu-kiang, neither Britain nor anyone else can he satisfied that the Cantonese are capable of preventing disorders, and even possible massacres, at Shanghai. “We could at Hankow give the Cantonese a chance of proving their ability to maintain order, because in the event of failure we could rapidly evacuate the city. Blit at Shanghai the position is quite different. Eight thousand British people there could not he safely evacuated from a population of a million ' and a-lialf of Chinese, if anti-British feeling, of which there has been already plenty of evidence, were fomented until great masses of the Chinese ran amuck. In view of these risks no British Government, of whatever complexion, dare risk being unready to defend her nationals’ lives. AYe arc pledged to protect those lives, and we are determined to do so, whatever Chen may do.” Unofficial circles do not expect that Chen will maintain his protest to the extent of finally breaking down all negotiations. If lie does, the only possible conclusion will be that ho is no longer a free agent, but merely a pet of Moscow. Cab net again considered the China situation at a special meeting at the i'orotgn Office yesterday afternoon. Chen has cabled to the Labour Party, in response to tlie latter’s message, emphasising the Nationalist Government’s desire for a peaceful settlement of both the Hankow Con■ession and the other issues. He dates: “In pursuing a policy of.diplomacy and peace, we rely on British Labour to assist in controlling the British Government’s adventurous elements, and averting decisions for action which will dig deep into the .Nationalists’ minds, enduring resentment and hostility towards Britain.” Chen added: “I sought to arrange a settlement at Hankow, apart from the general issues, of Chinese Nationalism and British Imperialism, which should satisfy British sentiment and preserve Nationalist self-respect. Such 1 a settlement can be reached imme- 1 3lately if only there is a cessation of the war atmosphere and war neurosis due to the menacing concentration at Shanghai of the most powerful forces Britain has. massed in China since the opium wars. If the object of the warlike measures is merely to guard against British lives and property being jeopardised by the Chinese ocizuro of the foreign settlement in Shanghai, there ought no longer to be anxiety thereon in View of the state-

ment I made to Air O’Alalley. If the massing: of forces is an expression of the type of governing mind that feeds on the bodies of slaughtered men, it is to be feared the disablement of British trade may have to continue until British Labour is entrusted with the task of arresting the British decline in the Far East, substituting statesmanship, peace and' productive work for the Tory Imperialism, war and Byzantine glory.” The British United Press has received the following from Alarslial Chang Tso-lin : “Tlio object of the present expedition is to combat and eliminate Bolshevism, which is harmful and dangerous to the world. I have been co-operating with Alarslial AYu Pei-fu all along. Although he is unable to make headway at Chencliow, our troops will continue to fight Bolshevism to the end.” “The Vickers Company is constructing 100 tanks of new design for the Japanese Government and the Northern army in China. It is expected that they may be completed in a few weeks,” says the Alorning Post, which adds: “The Government has worked in close alliance during the last few years with Chang Tso-lin, the head of the northern forces in China. The new tanks will even travel upside down, the crew being seated on swivel seats, so that they will not he affected when the tanks overturn.”-—A. and N.Z. cable.

TROOPS FOR CHINA. AAIERICAN AIARINES. LEAVING THE PHILIPPINES. - TO BE SENT TO SHANGHAI. Received February 4, 9.30 a.m. AVASHJNGTON, Feb. 3. Admiral Williams, Coinmander-in-Chief of the Asiatic fleet, has informed Air Wilbur, Secretary of the Navy, that a detachment of 251 marines and 25 officers will leave Cavite, Philippine Islands for Shanghai oil February 4, upon the arrival of the United States steamer Goldstar which is now 150 miles from Guam.—A. and N.Z. cable.

EN ROUTE TO SHANGHAI. FORCES LEAVE SINGAPORE. Received February 4, 9.45 a.m. SINGAPORE, Feb. 3. The first cruiser squadron and the second battalion of tho Durhams have left for Shanghai.—A. and N.Z. cable.

SHANGHAI SHAKEN. SEVERE EARTH TREAIORS. Received February 4, 9.45 a.m. PEKIN, Feb, 3. Severe earthquake shocks were felt at Shanghai this morning. The buildings rocked half a,minute, but no damage is reported. One shock was of 70 seconds’ duration. The local observatory states that the earthquakes are centred from 150 to 200 miles west or north-west of Shanghai and are not considered serious.—A. and N.Z. cable.

BOLSHEVISTS LESS SECURE. FRENCH POLITICIAN’S VIEWS. PARIS, Feb. 2. „ “Tho Bolshevist influence in the Kuomintang party appears to be waning,” declared Al. Albert Alilhaud, addressing the foreign alfaii’s committee of tho Chamber of Deputies, and analysing the attitude of .the Powers. He said that Britain sought to continue her traditional policy with the Government of the North while negotiating with the Southern Government, in order to safeher important interests. Japan and France were inclined to await the unification of China, hut tho Chinese seemed more concerned to ensure their independence as regards foreigners than to re-establish the unity of the old Empire. Al. Alilhaud question whether it was really to France’s interest to wait until the other Powers were entering into negotiations.—A. and N Z cable.

MOSCOW COMMENT. CHEN RE-ECHOED. MOSCOW, Feb. 2. The newspaper Izvestia re-eehoes Chen, saying that Sir Austen Chamberlain’s programme, although not satisfying all demands might have been considered if it had not been accompanied by the dispatch of warships and troops.—A. and N.Z. cable.