STRIKE AND BOYCOTT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 111, 7 April 1927, Page 7

STRIKE AND BOYCOTT

CONTINUATION OF LOOTING.

CHINESE SITUATION WORSE

CONCENTRATION OF WARSHIPS

JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received April 7, 9.30 a.m.

SHANGHAI, April 6. A general strike and a boycott of all foreign goods in the entire Yangtsze Valley has commenced and the situation is rapidly becoming more grave. All Japanese are evacuating the- Yangtsze Valley.

The warships of the international Asiatic fleets are rushing to the important ports and a large fleet 1 is concentrating at Hankow, where the Japanese admiral has sworn his word of honour to prevent the Chinese trespassing in the Japanese concession. He promises to maintain the dignity of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The present strength of the Japanese landing party at Hankow is 300 and it is being hurriedly reinforced. The cruiser Tentyu is en rou,te. —A. and N.Z. cable.

JAPAN’S POLICY.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

WITHDRAWAL OF NATIONALS.

OPENED BY MR RAMSAY. MACDONALD.

NOT DEPENDING ON CHAOTIC CHINA.

BRITISH POLICY BEING TESTED,

TOKIO, April 5. The Japanese Government has decided on a policy of withdrawal of all Japanese residents in the interior of China, pending settlements. The Government is not depending on a chaotic China for the protection of Japanese nationals, neither is it holding a nonexistent Chinese Government responsible for mob action.

Received April 7, 9.15 a.m. LONDON. April 6. In the House of Commons there was a crowded attendance when Mr Ramsay M'acDonald initiated the debate on China. He said that no one could say what was going to happen. The despatch of the Shanghai defence force had undoubtedly increased our difficulties of negotiation without increasing the protection for Britishers outside of Shanghai. It had also fed the traditional Chinese suspicion, though he believed this was without 1 foundation. Not Shanghai, but the wholfe of China wa6 the immediate test of our policy. Nobody could 6ay before inquiry what had happened in Nanking and therefore be urged the Government to use the League of Nations as a means of inquiry. Personally, he was most glad that Britain, America and Japan were to-day presenting notes and not ultimata. There should be a clear statement that we etill stood where we were at Christmas. THE NANKING HAPPENINGS.

Cabinet has decided that this is the best method of rendering assistance to a neighbour, pending the final and definite negotiation of new treaties or the establishment of a Government able to take control of concentrations. Japanese residents in China and at Hankow already have been ordered to leave the country. The Labour National Joint Council, at a meeting held in the House of Commons passed a resolution appealing to the Government, in view of the contradictory reports from Nanking, to refrain from presenting the Chinese authorities with anything in the nature of an ultimatum based on ex parte statements, the rejection of which would lead to a state of warfare, and demanding that the Government immediately open negotiations, and, in the event of a disagreement, to submit the outsanding points to an arbitration tribunal, and undertaking not to make claims in China except in accordance with the tribunal’s decision.—A. and N.Z. cable.

If the League of Nations could make the Nanking inquiry it would do a tremendous lot of good. He hoped that Sir Austen Chamberlain would not decline to use the League. They should know what was in the mind of the War Office in sending out more troops and. how far we were acting alone in such matters. It was not in the British interests as the market for our gcods was circumscribed and barred by prejudice and ilk will. The Chinese had learned the powfer of the boycott.

SOVIET EMBASSY.

RAIDED BY CHANG’S TROOPS.

“KINGDOM OF THE BLIND.”

Received April 7, 8.5 a.m. PEKIN, April 6.

Mr R. Mitchell Banks (Conservative) said that Mr Ramsay MacDonald s speech recalled the proverb that in the Kingdom of the Blind a one-eyed man was King.” He wished Mr Ramsay MacDonald could give some vision to his but unfortunately his kingdom was governed not from the throne but from the ante-chamber. Mr Ramsay MacDonald had said that revolutionary propaganda in the East was based on historv, but Mr Mitchell Banks 'declared that the Independent Ls.bour Party was busy preparing the history upon which to base its propaganda. If anybody spread suspicion it was the Labour Party by its meetings and resolutions, and if there should be a disaster they, would be its chief authors. If Sir Austen Chamberlain had to defend himself it would be against pushing the virtue of patience almost to a fault. DEBATE IN COMMONS.

Acting under the signed authorisation of the diplomatic corps, a body of Chang Tso Lin’s troops and armed police raided a Soviet Embassy. One shot was heard, whereafter a Russian was dragged, out, bound and carried off in a motor car. Afterwards six Russians and from 15 to 20 Chinese were removed to the police station. A machine gun, 15 rifles '.nd a quantity of ammunition were removed from the Embassy. It is understood that the Soviet Charge d’Affaires and other officials have been detained at their offices. Troops still occupy the building.—A. and N.Z. cable.

TRADE WITH CHINA

BRITISH EXPORTS DECREASE,

LONDON, April 5. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, President of the Board of Trade in the course of a written reply regarding Britain’s exports to China showed that in 1920 they were £41,761,000; in 1921, £24,833,000; in 1922, £21,837,000; 1923, £17,290,000; 1924, £19,082,000; 1925, £13,535,000. The imports from China were:—l92o, £4,238,000: 1921, £1,374,000; 1922, £1,910,000; 1923, £2,133,000; 1924, £2.952,000; 1925, £2,253,000.--A. and. N.Z. cable.

After Colonel Wedgwood (Labour) had spoken, there were loud cries for Sir Austen Chamberlain.

The Deputy Speaker called on Sir Alfred Mond, but the interruption continued.

Mr. Moseley shouted: “We are debating the Government’s policy without hearing what it is.” Sir Alfred Mond began amidst a chorus of Labour interruptions and cries of “poison gas.” The speaker warned both Mr. Purcell and Mr. Beckett, who consistently interrupted Sir Alfred Mond.

P MOSCOW SENDS FUNDS.

AIDING THE CANTONESE

SIR AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN REPLIES.

LONDON, April 5

The Times’s Constantinople correspondent says that he has learned that Moscow is transmitting substantial sums to the Cantonese, via Constantinople, from, which centre money is being telegraphed to the different merchants in China. The money is pretended payment for goods bought by Turkish merchants in China. It is stated that 100,000 dollars have_ been thus transmitted during the past six weeks.—Times.

Sir Austen Chamberlain, replying to the debate, said that the whole of the city of Shanghai had been created by foreigners and it existed and prospered because of foreigners. Britain was ready to meet the Nationalist aspect and remove the special conditions rendered necessary by past conditions as soon as l China could give foreigners the same justice and security as the Chinese obtained elsewhere in the civilized world.

The looting in Nanking continued unchecked to April 4. The officer in charge of the Nationalists sent a warning that any Britisher going ashore would be shot. Similar incidents occurred in Chekiang, Ichang and other places under the control of *the Nationalists.

ANTI-FOREIGN FEELING

STILL EVIDENT IN NANKING

Received April 7, 9.30 a.m. SHANGHAI, April 6. A wireless message from Nanking says that the anti-foreign feeling is still evident and foreign houses are being looted. A northern aeroplane dropped two bombs in Nukov and three in Nanking city.—A. and N.Z. cable. -

While Sir Austen Chamberlain was reading the report on Ichang Mr. Wallhead (Labour) interjected: “It sounds lib e a students’ rag day.” This was followed by cries of “Order.” Sir Austen Chamberlain asked: “What interest does the member serve by minimising these outrages?” Mr Wallhead: “Nothing I have heud justifies war.” Sir Austen Chamberlain continued that Britain must know the attitude of the responsible Chinese authorities towards the outrages. He believed tint, all the Powers were in substan-tial-agreement that it was necessary to require redress, but he did not want to speak too confidently. He knew an agreement had been reached by the Ministers at Pekin, but be was absolutely certain regarding the attitude of their governments thereon. All the indications were that Japan, the United States and ourselves were not merely in agreement on the matter of asking for reparations, but also . regarding what reparations should be asked. —A. and N.Z. cable and Reuter '

AMERICAN WRITERS

ARRESTED BY CHINESE POLICE

PEKING, April 5. Chinese police have arrested Mr. Wilbur Burton anc* Mfs. Mildred Mitchell, American news writers, on charges of being propagandists for the Nationalist Government., tending to overthrow constituted authorities and incite the Pekin public to disorder. The nlleged propagandists are guarded at an hotel, by Chihese police, pending their being handed over to the United States authorities. Both prisoners wore formerly employed on Shanghai newspapers and wrote pro-Nation-alist'articles. which were featured in the Nationalist press.—A. and N.Z. .cable-