UNHAPPY A CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18455, 17 January 1922, Page 5

UNHAPPY A CHINA

CIVIL WAR THREATENS. A GLOOMY PICTURE. v OLD TROUBLES REVIVED. - ** Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. 15 LONDON, January 14. ■ The Peking correspondent of The Times draws a gloomy picture, of China’s position. He says she is split into factions under a new and weak • Government, the existence of which is precarious. The country is confronted with incessant civil war and political chaos. The Liberal Leader (Wu-Pei-Fu) is assembling large forces on the Yellow River, near Cheng Chow, and is threatening • the capital. The Government’s credit is so low that stabilisation depends on foreign loans; but the foreign banks are standing aloof ; fearing a collapse. A curious situation is disclosed by the .fact that the Customs revenue is steadily increasing. A' foreign loan yvould completely ensure solvency. There is plenty of money available, but the trouble'' is to find a Govefnment to whom it could be entrusted;. otherwise China is faced with bankruptcy.—The Times, , PRECIPITATING A CLASH/ / I ULTIMATUM TO PEKING GOVERNMENT. PEKING, January 16. (Received January 16 at 7.30 p.m.) Governor , Wu-Pei-Fu has instructed General Hunan at Hupeh to send an ultimatum to the Peking Government giving the Cabinet of Liang Shih Yl three days in which to resign. Wu-Pei-Fu is moving troops north from Hupeh. y The Cabinet, has replied refusing to re/ sign under any circumstances. —A. and N.Z. Cable. \ OPINION Ilf THE EAST. ANGLO-AMERICAN INTRIGUE BLAMED.' NEW YORK, January 16. (Received January 16 at 9.25 p.m.)\ The New York World’s/Tokio correspondent states’ that the vernacular press is printing special articles from Shanghai asserting that American and British interests are behind Wu-Pei-Fu’s antagonism of the Liang Ministry. The newspaper Nichi Niehi reports that the Anglo-Americans in China have determined to wipe out Liang because of his pro-Japanese views, and they* are planning to defeat Chang Tso-lin, the Mukden war lord. For l the same reason the majority of the newspapers assume that war between the Chinese factions in the North is imminent. It is reported that Dr Sun Yat Sen has abandoned his' campaign against Peking for the present, believing that there is nothing to be gained by the South fighting the North, since the Northerners are going to. fight among themselves, thus clearing the way later for a Southern victory. The Japanese say that the present trouble will teach the Americans whati the real state of affairs is in China.—A. and N.Z. Cihle. , ■