NANKING INCIDENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 219, 14 August 1928, Page 8

NANKING INCIDENT

SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE. CLAIMS BY THE CHINESE. THE BRITISH REPLY. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless). -Received August 14, 11.47 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 13. Tho text is issued of letters exchanged between Sir Sidney Barton, tho British Consul-General at Shanghai, and Dr. Wang, the Nationalist Foreign Minister at Nanking, containing the terms of the settlement of tho Nanking incident of March 24, 1927. In a letter dated August 9, Dr. Wang, in the name of tho Nationalist Government, conveyed in tho most smcero manner profound regret at the indignities and injuries inflicted upon the official representatives of the British Government, the loss of property sustained by tho British Consulate, and tho personal injuries and material damage done to British residents. He said that, .although it had been found after investigation of tho incident that it was entirely instigated by Communists prior to tho establishment of Nationalist Government at Nanking, the Nationalist Government nevertheless accepted tho responsibility for it. With the extermination of the Communists and their evil influences, the Nationalist Government undertook specifically that there would in tho future be no similar violence or agitation against British lives or legitimate interests. Dr. Wang added that the troops of tho particular division , that took part in the unfortunate incident had been disbanded, and effective steps had been taken for tho punishment of the soldiers and other persons implicated. Tho Nationalist Government undertook to make full compensation for all personal injuries .and material damage done to the British Consulate and its officials, and to British residents and their property at Nanking. The Nationalist Government proposed for the purpose tho institution of a SinoBritish joint commission to verify the actual injuries and damage and assess the amount of compensation. Replying on the same date, Sir Sidney Barton accepted tho settlement, believing that prompt and full effect would bo given to the intentions expressed by Dr. Wang. ACTION BY WARSHIP. In an additional note dated August 9 Dr. Wang said that the Nationalist Government hoped that the British Government would express regret at tho action of the British war vessel Emerald opening fire upon Sncony Hill at Nanking on March 24, 1927. Sir Sidney Barton replied that tho British Government felt that the measures taken by the Emerald were absoutely necessary for the protection of British lives and property, however deeply they might deplore the fact that tho circumstances at Nanking on March 24, 1927. were such as to render necessary the adoption of these measures.

Dr. Wang, in a further note on the same date, expressed the hope that a new epoch would began in diplomatic relations between China and Great Britain and suggested that further steps might ho taken for the revision of existing treaties and the readjustment of outstanding questions on tho basis of equality and mutual respect for territorial sovereignty. FRIENDLY ATTITUDE. Sir Sidney Barton replied: “The British Government recognise the essential justice of the Chinese claim to treaty revision, and in their declaration of December IS, 1926, and tlrcir seven proposals of January 28th, 1927, they made their policy abundantly clear, and have taken such practicable steps as lay in their power to carry it into effect. In order to give further expression to tho friendly and sympathetic attitude which they have always maintained towards China, the British Government are prepared in duo course to enter into negotiations with tho Nationalist Government on tho subject of treaty revision. The British Government do not intend to allow tho .Nanking incident to alter their previous attitude towards China and prefer to ‘consider it as an incident bearing no relation to their treaty revision policy.’ ”