NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1931. THE THORBURN CASE

Northern Advocate, 5 November 1931, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1931. THE THORBURN CASE

Registered for Transmission Through the Post as a Newspaper.

lii June last a young Englishman, John Thorburn, disappeared from Shanghai. He had been concerned in a fight with some Chinese who were making a demonstration, and it it alleged that he shot two of fhem. He then vanished, and, though it was believed that he had fallen into Chinese hands, no trace of him could be obtained. Then came rumours that he had been put to death. This naturally caused intense excitement, especially when the British Government was unable to obtain any information from the Chinese authorities. All the, elements of a diplomatic breach between Britain and China were present, and there was grave danger of serious conflict. Now has come a sensational development, for a cable message today reveals the fate of Mr Thorburn, It makes sad and exasperating reading, but, unless the Chinese Government has deliberately misrepresented the circumstances, the incident assumes a less serious aspect from a diplomatic point of view. The British Minister has received from the Chinese Government a Note in which regret is expressed that the desired information was not given sooner. The Government explains that Mr Thorburn was arrested at Suchow, after fatally shooting two gendarmes, and, when being examined by a Chinese colonel named Huang Chen-wu was shot dead by the latter, who had lost his temper. The colonel, realising the enormity of his act, destroyed all evidence, including the corpse, and ordered his men not to divulge anything. A subordinate officer recently revealed the facts, following which the colonel Avas tried by courtmartial and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. The Note reaffirms the determination of the Chinese Government to uphold the modern conception of justice and to see that it is administered within Chinese territory. It- further expresses the hope that the action taken in this case will convince the British ’Government that the Chinese profession in this respect is sincere. The last of the incident has probably not been heard, but if the facts are as stated it would seem that the Chinese Government has not acted in the anti-British spirit which it has been so freely charged.