"STAND AND WATCH."

Northern Advocate, 22 June 1925, Page 5

"STAND AND WATCH."

OTHER STATES RESTRICTED. LONDON, June 20. A debate in the House of Commons on the Shanghai situation was opened by Mr. C. P. Trevelyan, Labour member for Newcastle. He laid stress on the alarming condition of China. He agreed that it was the elementary duty of the Government to protect the lives of fellow-citizens. In that connection he promised Labour's support, but contended that the origin of the trouble was industrial, and that the climax had come through unjustified shooting. Mr. Trevelyan asserted that the British Government was using its forces to back up capitalistic exploitation.

Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), in replying, admitted that the industrial conditions in China were not ideal. The British Government was doing, and had always done, its best to effect an improvement. The trouble was really much more deeply seated. He referred to the dissatisfaction and discontent of the almost incoherent and governmentless congerie of countries forming the Chinese Empire, which, notwithstanding the goodwill and international co-operation promised by the Washington Conference, prevented the Powers from doing little more than stand and watch.

The Minister denied that the order to fire on the rioters in Shanghai was given precipitately. On the contrary, that action was not taken until the police station was endangered with the arms it contained. Mr. Chamberlain said the Government was anxious to do its utmost to facilitate the stabilisation of China, and proposed to consult with the other Powers to facilitate promptest convocation of the Chinese tariff conference as foreshadowed at the Washington Conference. Ho hoped, with the good will of the Powers and of China, they would bo able to pilot the country through the transition period and establish the Government on a firm foundation of equity and justice.—A. and N.Z.