POWERS MAY TAKE ACTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19601, 1 April 1927, Page 11

POWERS MAY TAKE ACTION.

DEMANDS BEING PREPARED. FOREIGNERS SEEK SAFETY. r* 1 " > 4 m ' _;; : • ''■ . •; ' -' • ' ' '- An important development ir the China situation is reported from London to be imminent. The British Government has discussed a set of demands which are to be placed before* the Cantonese authorities, probably in conjunction with Japan and America. One demand, it ifs stated, will be for compensation for the outrages at Nanking. An oGacial statement has been made at Washington to the effect that America. intends to play a lone hand in China,. Her forces are not to be merged with the troops of the other Powers. She desires to be in a position to negotiate with any constituted authority in China. A strong indictment of the Cantonese was uttered in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Austen Chamberlain, who sheeted home to the Southerners the guilt for premeditated and organised atrocities at l^anking. Earlier messages said the British Government had adopted a much more stern attitude toward the Cantonese owing to the receipt in London of more details of the horrors perpetrated by the Southern army at banking. The Minister?} at Peking representing the Great- Powers were reported to be meeting daity and considering emergency measures to meet the situation at Nanking, and to protect their nationals in future. It is now admitted in official circles in London that the evacuation of British subjects from various parts of China has become imperative, as the situation in the civil war zone may get out of control at any moment. The news from China shows that the withdrawal of foreigner:? from many places in the danger area is. proceeding. At Shanghai a mob, which included some Cantonese soldiers, attempted to force an entry to the French concession. A French policeman shot and wounded one of the rioters. x The Chinese then calmly uprooted the large iron gates at the entrance to the concession and carried them off. This contemptuous action has created further uneasiness in the concession, though the French authorities minimise the incident.