THE CHINESE CHAOS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19903, 24 September 1926, Page 9

THE CHINESE CHAOS

A DISQUIETING SITUATION. BRITAIN IN A QUANDARY. POSSIBLE REVERSAL OF POLICY. (Pres. Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.! LONDON, September 22. (Received Sept. 23, at 5.5 p.tn.^ The Daily Mail’s diplomatic correspondent says: ‘‘The situation in China is disquieting, as the new naval movements suggest that the British action in sounding Washington for Anglo-American intervention resulted iu such a rebuff that a formal proposal for joint action was not submitted/ The negotiations with Japan continue. Chinese circles state that Japan has laid down four conditions to her co-operation —first, the reduction of the Singapore base project to a minimum; secondly, the recognition of Japan’s special interests in Central China; thirdly, full support to the Japanese penetration of Northern China. Manchuria, and Mongolia; and fourthly, concessions to aJpanese commercial and financial interests.” The correspondent adds: “If an agreement is not reached Britain, realising the impossibility of single-handed intervention, might startlingly reverse her previous policy. It is understood that Cabinet is already considering the recognition of the de facto provisional governments and the abandonment of the pretence that the Peking Government really represents China. The consequences of such a reversal of policy would be very far-reach-ing.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. NAVAL REINFORCEMENTS. FLOTILLA OF DESTROYERS. MALTA, September 22. The third destroyer flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet suddenly left for China last night. The cruiser Delhi will also proceed if the destroyers need strengthening.—A. and N.Z. Cable. MOTOR COMPETITION EFFECT ON THE RAILWAYS WHAT AMERICA IS DOING. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, September 22. (Received Sept. 23, at 8 p.m.) Mr Gahan, of the Commonwealth Railways, who is inquiring regarding the means adopted in America to prevent boiler corrosion from water, which is one of the most important railway problems in Australia, said that the internal combustion locomotives used here would meet the situation, but he did not believe that such engines would prove useful for passenger haulage in the Commonwealth. Mr Gahan will later go to England to investigate steam turbine locomotives. He remarked that the American railways were losing many millions of dollars owing to motor competition, but his observations here had convinced him that motor transport could best accomplish a useful purpose when it was used as a feeder to the railway lines. The American railways were meeting this competition by investing heavily in motor vehicles for such feeder purposes, and he believed that the situation which was shaping in a similar direction in the Commonwealth would probably be met in the same way.—A. and N.Z. Cable.