DANGER IN CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18460, 25 July 1923, Page 9

DANGER IN CHINA.

GOVERNMENT ' BREAKDOWN ANARCHY IN PROVINCES. AN EMPTY: TREASURY. By Telegraph— Association— Times ; PEKING, July 23. Grotesque as is the situation .in China, it is nevertheless fraught with, danger. The capital is devoid ;of administration beyond three members.of the defunct Cabinet, who issue mandates and orders as regents in charge. Parliament is not sitting; as a quorum is unobtainable, and all sources of revenue are dry. '';;.•' Chinese diplomatic missions abroad are breaking up, as they -are not receiving remittances from Peking. Inhabitants are wondering how soon the troops will invade and blackmail the banks and merchants for their maintenance, or openly loot. In several provinces the troops are carrying on') civil war, and competing with brigands in harrying inhabitants. Most cruel anarchy prevails. Trade is at a standstill. Foreign vessels on the Upper Yangtse are frequently heavily fired on by riflemen hidden among the rocks.. Illegal taxation of goods in transit is the most ' important • function of the administrative r officers in the • provinces. Foreign treaties do not count outside the Treaty Ports, and \ foreigners are again becoming the traditional "foreign devils." '