The New Zealand Times MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1927. THE SITUATION IN CHINA

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12650, 10 January 1927, Page 6

The New Zealand Times MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1927. THE SITUATION IN CHINA

For weeks the British situation at Hankow stood on the verge of disaster. Two days ago trie evacuation of the Concession seemed to have forced the situation over the verge. It was a proof to the world of the inability of Britaiin to'hold her own in China. In Chinese eyes this is the end of an unrighteous occupation. In the eyes of the world it is said to be a disastrous loss of British prestige. In the eyes of othpr nationals holding concessions in China, the evacuation of the British Concession at Hankow means the evacuation of all other concessions; in other words, the expulsion of foreign officialdom from China,

The natural con-sequence would, of course, be the absolute insecurity of foreign life and foreign property in China. The difficulty of the situation was accentuated by the isolation of the attacked British interest. No other was attacked, and no help, or offer of help, to the British came from the other nationals. The British Government, however, faced the situation with courage, and, as it has turned out, with wisdom. It demanded the restoration of the evacuated Hankow Concession, and the demand was followed promptly by the restoration of the Concession. The air is thus cleared of a complication which might have done many dreadful things, and would certainly have subjected the influence of the League of Nations to a very rude test. Another result is that British prestige is restored; and that without a war of punitive assertions which might have become a world war.

Ihe British firmness is justified by the event. So is the British wisdom: (i) The extremist plot; to force the British to throw the torch of mob casualties into the powder-house of the international situation was frustrated by the order to the defending forces not to fire. (2) Reliance on the moderation of the Cantonese policy, which eventually succeeded in first extricating the British inhabitants from the Concession without bloodshed, and eventually in bringing about the restoration of the Concession. The extricated residents may or may not elect to return, but, in any case, British prestige is safe. The result is that the Chinese difficulty remains as it was before the episode, and may remain without disturbance until the victory of one or other of the numerous Chinese belligerents establishes a strong Central Chinese Government, able to negotiate a peaceful settlement agreeable to all parties in the international difficulties presented by China. It is a substantial result, on which the British nation may well be complimented on the firmness and wisdom of its action. This combination has averted the easy possibility of a frightful international explosion.