TURMOIL IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20004, 22 January 1927, Page 11

TURMOIL IN CHINA

GRAVITY OF SITUATION FOREIGNERS LEAVE INTERIOR. MISSIONARY WORK DOOMED. PREPARING TO DEFEND SHANGHAI.

(Fran AMOcUtion—By Telegraph—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, January 20. The interior of China is fast being drained of foreign merchants and missionaries, who are leaving on the instructions of the British authorities, and are proceeding tc Hankow, or the nearest river port, where they are picked up by British gunboats and transferred to Shanghai, which is sheltering thousands of foreign refugees from all parts of China. Britain’s future moves are clouded in uncertainty. Messages daily received state that additional naval reinforcements are proceeding to China. British warships of the smaller class continue to proceed to Hankow, where the Legation Secretary, Mr O’Malley, continues to negotiate with the Chinese. Extraordinary precautions are being taken against mob uprisings. The international French settlements are erecting barbed-wire barricades at important intersections, and even 12ft iron gates at the most important places. The erection of accommodation for a large force of foreign

troops from overseas is proceeding at

strategic points, particularly at the municipal utility plants. An hotel in the heart of the settlement has been fortified

in preparation for receiving women and children in the case of necessity. Bvery-

thing points to a determined resistance by

the Shanghai authorities against a repetition of the Hankow incidents. Industrial a forerunner of riots —are already here. The trams arc paralysed, and the electricity service Is threatened.

Missionary work in China henceforth is doomed, protests notwithstanding. It has suffered the greatest blow in its history. All save a few die-hards are deserting their posts and heading for Shanghai. The Szechwan Province, which was regarded as the greatest field for missionary work, is being evacuated systematically by its 500 missionaries of all faiths. Even the so-called Christian general, Feng-Yu-hsiang, is hounding the missionaries from the territory under his control.

A few missionaries in the interior are held by the Chinese as hostages against British reprisals. These are greatly feared by the Chinese, as a result of the Hankow incident, which the conservative Chinese consider overstepped international friendship.—A. and N.Z. Cable. MARINES FOR CHINA. MEG ANTIC AS TROOPSHIP. LONDON, January 20. The Hegantic is fitting out at Liverpool to take marines to China.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GOVERNMENT’S MEASURES EXPLAINED. LONDON, January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 10 p.m.) In accordance with custom, Sir Austen Chamberlain had conferences with Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Mr Llo-'-d George separately as Leaders of the Opposition, and explained the position regarding China, especially the precautionary measures which the Government is adopting.—A. and N.Z. Cable. DESPATCH OF SPANISH CRUISER. MADRID, January 20. Spain is despatching a cruiser, the Don Blaslezo, to Shanghai.—A. and N.Z. Cable. (Received Jan. 21, at 10 General de Rivera and his Ministers, after a long conference, decided to send a cruiser to China with orders to protect religious missions.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ATTITUDE OF JAPAN. GOVERNMENT’S INACTION BLAMED. TOKIO, January 20. A vote of no-confidence was introduced in the Lower House, which immediately prorogued for three days. A dissolution is expected. Groups in the House of Peers are reported to have framed a resolution demanding that the Government, in order to clarify the position, should announce a more positive policy with regard 1 China, definitely asserting Japan’s intention to protect the interests of the Government and its nationals, and using force if necessary.

The newspapers generally approve of Baron Shidchara’s position, which is interpreted to mean that, whatever form of government China adopts, Japan is determined to maintain and defend her own system of government. The Asahi Shimbun disapproves of a policy of following the British lead. The paper points out that British Governments have changed their policy, thus upsetting Japan’s economic policy. It affirms the correctness of Baron Shidehara’s attitude in demanding the reopening of the Customs Conference. The paper urges the Government to act independently and to adopt a friendly and sympathetic course throughout the treaty revision negotiations.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ARMED INTERVENTION. OPPOSED BY NEW ZEALAND LABOUR. WELLINGTON, January 21. Mr Nash, secretary of the New, Zealand Labour Party, has forwarded a cable to Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Parliamentary Leader of the British Labour Party, pledging the New Zealand Labour Party’s support to the British Labour movement in any action taken to prevent armed intervention by the British Government in China.