DARING ACT OF PIRACY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 11

DARING ACT OF PIRACY.

BRITISH STEAMER LOOTED. 700 PASSENGERS ROBBED. BOOTY VALUED AT £20,000. MINOR TROUBLES ELSEWHERE. By Telegraph—Press? Association—Copyright. (Heceived Feb. 1, 1.25 a.m.) Sun. PEKING, Jan. 31. The British steamer Seang Bee, of 5849 tons, belonging to the China, and Southern Trading Company, has sent a wireless message from Bias Bay stating that pirates attacked her on Thursday. The pirates left for the shore taking considerable loot. The captain stated that they rushed the breakfast saloon and compelled the 12 British officers there to proceed on deck. The pirates then dismantled the wireless installation. After that for four days they conducted a search of the 700 passengers. The miscreants secured booty valued at £20,000. A naval wireless message from Hankow says all is quiet there. An Italian vessel has arrived loaded with Chinese troops. At Kiu-kiang, owing to the interference of Labour "pickets, the Commissioner of Customs has decided to close down. At Wanhsien some Chinese contractors were arrested for supplying coal to a British vessel. TENSION IN SHANGHAI. CHAMBERLAIN'S PROPOSALS. THE PUBLICATION AWAITED. (Received Feb. 1, 1.20 a.m.) A. and N.Z. PEKING, Jan.. 31. j The first comment in Shanghai on Sir Austen Chamberlain's speech is somewhat guarded pending the publication of an actual statement giving British proposals which are eagerly admitted. Apart from large British houses and banks, numerous smaller British traders and professional men who have invested their all in concessions, and coniderable sections of British Eurasians, are vitally affected by the proposals. These people at present are wondering, somewhat pessimisticaly, where they and their interests will finally stand. Their chief fears are in respect to the difficulty in securing justice in Chinese Courts, and the prospect of excessive taxation and various' restrictions and hamperings of trade. MISSIONARY'S VIEWS. STEP TOWARD SOLUTION. THE EXTREMIST ELEMENT. i <• . "The news this morning is the best we have had about China. The new offer is the best thing Britain could do; intervention would be madness, or worse than madness," declared a lady, now resident in Auckland, who was for many years working in China. Knowing China as she does from long personal association she was emphatic in stating that Britain's offer would bo very helpful toward solving the troubles of the country. The Rev. H. S. Conway, of Remuera, who was on the staff of the China Inland Mission for 30 years until he retired a short time ago, was also very favourably impressed by Sir Austen Chamberlain's speech, and he, too, is of the opinion that Britain's generosity will go a long way toward the solution of the Chinese problem. Mr. Conway said Britain's position seemed to be very difficult to understand. It seemed to be a complete climb down, and Britain seemed to be willing ito give back her position and renounce her debts and claims. It was most generous, and it ought to take the wind out of the sails of the Bolsheviks. He could quite understand that such an action as outlined by the British Foreign Minister would make for harmonious conditions in China. "I do not think the Chinese could ask for more than Britain is willing to give now," he added. "Of course, when they touch the question of Chinese being admitted to Australia on equal terms with the white man it is another thing. That is not for England to say yea or nay; it is a question for Australia to decide for itself. "The foreigner who goes to China enriches China-, and the Chinese who comes here only impoverishes us, therefore the thing is not equal. They do not bring trade to us. "1 am practically sure the Chinese aro ready to resume trade negotiations, and are angry with their own people for the present state of affairs, but they cannot act. There is no representative Government, no vox populi. "But the voice of China will be heard largely through the chambers of commerce, which will soon begin to face the fact that their trade has suffered. Under the present conditions that will be the voice worth listening to, because the chambers represent the best class of Chinese," Referring to the persistent propaganda of the Bolsheviks, Mr. Conway said that if Britain counteracted it by similar propaganda it would do a great deal of good.