The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1927. CHINA AND THE WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12660, 21 January 1927, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1927. CHINA AND THE WORLD

The situation is approaching a crisis without signs of definite possibilities of settlement. It is evidently governed by the new military strength of China. Too strong to be coerced, too disunited to make a settlement in any way satisfactory, China is drifting, and Chinese leaders are making threats. The Chinese side of the problem is very clearly put by the Cantonese Prime Minister. The Chinese want the restoration of independence with the abolition of foreign Imperialism. It is a plain statement requiring no detailed review of facts, which are known to all. This is met by the statement of the Japanese Minister, which is to the effect that there is no objection to the’principle embodied in the demand for the alteration of the forcibly-imposed treaties, but that provision must be made for preventing the diversion of the incidentally-increased Chinese revenues from being either used for revolutionary purposes, or going into the pockets of corrupt officials. It means simply that, however willing the Powers may be to meet the Chinese demands in the most liberal way, the disunited condition of China makes a settlement satisfactory to all parties affected by the Chinese problem impossible. _, Moreover, the Powers are not in agreement about the terms on which the problem should be settled, while the various sections of the Chinese nation are drifting further into active hostility to the foreign nationals settled in various parts of Chinese territory in the enjoyment of trading and other concessions to which there is growing Chinese disapproval. The probable outcome, if nothing is done on the foreign side, is disaster to these foreign nationals residing in China. It is a probably diminished in some degree by the existing friendly feeling towards foreigners on the part of a section of the Chinese people. This matter is complicated by the lack of control over the lawless sections, by the sympathy with that section of Chinese troops, and by the operations of large bodies of organised bandits, who defy all authorities, native, and foreign alike. The suggestion for settlement on an equitable basis by the British Government has not found favour with the foreign Powers. Whether it will diminish the complications of the above chaos by its appeal to the reasonable elements of Chinese public opinion, it is impossible for anyone to say at present. In the matter of protecting their nationals in China against the hostile Chinese drift, the Powers seem fairly of the same mind. British forces are on the way to the point of danger, as are The forces of Japan and the U.S.A., and the co-operation of France has been promised. These movements will certainly overawe the lawless elements in proximity to the various Concessions occupied by the foreign nationals. If, on the other hand, the organised, wellequipped military strength of any of the Chinese rebels against the central authority join in the fight, it may be difficult to forecast the issue. The possibility of such a development, whether near or remote, gives gravity to the situation.