AGITATORS IN CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19501, 3 December 1926, Page 13

AGITATORS IN CHINA.

THE HATED FOREIGNER.

RGBS URGED TO VIOLENCE. AN UGLY SITUATION. SPREAD OF THE BOYCOTT. IiEDS THREATEN PEKING. 4? By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) £. and N.Z. PEKING. Dec. 1. The majority of the labourers at HanJtow are idle, as a result of a strike fjommunist speakers at daily gatherings harangue huge crowds of pec pie, who are readily induced to listen to firebrand speeches.

These speeches are stirring the Chinese population to acts of violence against foreigners.

Wealthy Chinese organisations with various alleged purposes are being formed every day. Their main puirpose js to gain a mastery over foreigners with She object of. driving them from China.

The aati-foreign boycott is now spreading beyond Hankow, where the Customs Commissioner is enlisting foreign labour to replace striking Chinese officers. Every Japanese house at Hankow is picketed. Reprisals aro swift on any suppliers cf food.

There are; significant rumours to the effect that the Russian Communist Trotzky is to relieve Cherni.ch as Soviet ambassador at Peking. This is regarded as indicating the Soviet's intention of creating a Far Eastern, war. The further despatch of M arslal Chang Tso-lin's troops to the Yang tse River has been cancelled as a result of the Kuominclmn (national army) i. threatening Peking.

There is great activity anong Chang's troops, who are preparing lor a great winter campaign.

POLICY OF BRITAIN.

PROTECTS! ON for subjects. 'ARMED. ATTACK NOT FEARED. Australian and N.Z. Cabl'& Association. (Reed. 10.5 p.m.r LONDON. Dec. 1. The. notice paper rn the House of Commons to-day contained a batch of questions on the Chinese situationIn' replying to these the Secretary of State for Foreign Affaijis, Sir Austen Chamberlain, said there was no international foreign settlement at Hankow, but Britain, France and Japan had separate Concessions. Their naval forces at Hanbow would no doubt act in concert to protect, their respective nationals. , A sloop and the river gunboats would remain at Hankow for the winter, and additional forces would t* made available if a landing were necessitated.

There was no reason, to apprehend per-' sonai .danger, to British subjects in the treaty . ports of China, except possiblv &t Hankow,, or at isolated! places in the interior. ./ '.'

At said Sir Austen, ho caw no reason' to anticipate an armed attack "on Shanghai by the Cantonese soldiers. Aithough the work of professional agitators wight inconveni-' ence. the community, fc|i®TO .was no reason to suppose that the shipping facilitiea at Hankow were inadequate to evacuate,the British people there if necessary. All the necessary . stops. were being taken to protect the livsis and interests of: British subjects in China, but otherwise Britain was most loth to intervene in the domestic affairs of China, The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, announced- that the present naval forces in tho Far Last were regarded as' sufficient, but he said lie was ■considering, the possibility,of having: to supplement them.

COMMENT II? LONDON. 'V. •• 'V; . ' '• ; . DIPLOMATS MYSTIFIED., , WARNINGS JUSTIFIED. • Australian and . N.2.. Cab!© Association. (Reed. 8.5 p.m.) , LONDON. Dec. 2. Diplomats and leader writers appear to be puzzled about British policy in China. The Morning Posi hints that important developments in the attitude of Britain toward the Canton revolutionary Govern ment may be expected shortly, and that ft modus vivendi wiL be reached., short of a recognition »f that regime. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says not only in British qu tiers but in others the same conventional phrase is used, namely: "We are closely watching developments." The correspondent remarks: " We have now heard this refrain in relation to China for over two years The attitude is ttrange, as warnings from British nationals on the spot' have so far been justified to the hilt." Tho correspondent alludes to a desire in certain circles to recognise tho Canton Government and to dispel the prejudice which characterises it as Red or Bolshevik.

INTERVENTION NEEDED

BRITONS AT SHANGHAI. POSITION CREATED ALARM. A. and N.Z. SHANGHAI, Deo. 1. British residents at Shanghai are relieved to hear of Sir Austen Chamberlain's announcement of the despatch of additional forces. There is widespread regret, however, that the British public does not realise the seriousness of the situation, and that intervention is thus delayed. The arrival of a new Minister from London is believed to be thei forerunner of a change in British policy. His arrival synchronised with the reeeipt of scores of telegraphic and postal communication.-. from residents asking for British inter vent,ion and. stating that further toleration of the high-handedness of the Chinese impossible.