CHINESE TROUBLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 75, 25 February 1927, Page 7

CHINESE TROUBLE

ANXIETY IN FRANCE.

REFLECTED BY PRESS COMMENT.

SOLIDARITY OF POWERS NECESSARY. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received February 25, 9.25 a.m. PARIS, Feb. 24. M. Briand specially addressed the senate on foreign affairs. Regarding China, he reiterated France’s intention of maintaining the strictest neutrality unless French nationalists or their property were threatened. The newspapers, which hitherto have entirely ignored Chinese developments, reflect the present anxiety. The Gaulois points out that the solidarity of the great Powers in China is of vital necessity. It would be better to defend Europe there than to have to fight a big Russo-Asiatic invasion later.

The Figaro says: “The moment is not distant when France will have to consider measures against those fomenting in Asia against Europe.”

The Matin advocates Franco-British co-operation in Shanghai.—A. and N.Z._.cable. TRANSPORTS’ MOVEMENTS. DIRECT TO SHANGHAI. LONDON, Feb. 23. The transports Magnetic and Kan* mala are not calling at Hong-Kong, but are going to Shanghai direct. Only the tanks from the Rarmala will be landed at Shanghai, and the latter will return to Hong-Kong, with the first infantry brigade of the Border and Middlesex Regiments.—A. and N.Z. cable.

SHANGHAI BOMBARDMENT. COMEDY NEARLY A TRAGEDY. SHANGHAI, Feb. 23. The comedy bombardment, which might easily have been a tragedy, revealed the fact that the gunboats were aiming at the arsenal, at most, half a mile distant, and hit the settlement several miles away. v Shanghai to-day resembles a city in the throes of war. Reporters are gathering copy clad in steel helmets, and bank clerks are cashing cheques clothed in full uniform.

A Paris correspondent says that the Government has instructed its Consul at Shanghai to co-operate with _ the Powers in defending the concessions, and has sanctioned tho use of force if necessary. This does not mean that M. Briand has departed from the general principle of neutrality, but that he is merely, preparing for eventualities. There is no present apprehension of a siege of the concessions, though it is realised that the symptoms are disquieting.—A. and N.Z. cable.

BRITISH ACCEDE TO REQUEST. NATIVE POLICE ATTACKED. Received February 25, 9.25 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 24. It is understood that the Government has consented to an urgent Paris request to allow British troops to be used in the defence of the French Concession at Shanghai.. The roads separating the settlement and the native city were black this afternoon with masses of Chinese attempting to take refuge in the settlement at Shanghai, but barricades prevented them.

The Punjabis took up stations on the settlement border last night and prevented a mob of 100 strong, armed with pistols and iron bars, getting further than fiercely attacking the native police station, capturing policemen and injuring one so severely that he is not expected to live. Chinese police reinforcements captured two of the ringleaders and beheaded them to-day.—A. and N.Z. cable.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION. RESOLUTION AT DUNEDIN. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Feb. 25. At a meeting of the local branch of the League of Nations Union a resolution w'as carried viewing with satisfaction the attitude of His Majesty’s Government towards China in the present difficulties, and expressing the earnest hope that there would be no resort to force unless it was for the protection of life.