TROUBLE IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20005, 24 January 1927, Page 7

TROUBLE IN CHINA

PREPARATIONS IN PEKING. ALL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. fTresa Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ) PEKING, January 21. The American Minister, Mr M’Murray, •who was going to America to confer with Mr Kellogg in regard to affairs in Chinn, has been recalled to Peking by a cable from Washington. Hitherto there have been no signs of disturbances or strikes, or anti-foreign feeling here, but the authorities are taking all precautions. It is believed that the Fengticn and Manchurian forces are determined to prevent trouble. Double guards, with fixed bayonets, are posted outside the foreign residences, and picked patrols march the streets all night with orders ruthlessly to suppress disturbers of the peace. The American authorities have warned their Nationals that the signal pf trouble in the daytime will be a blue Peter flown below the Stars and Stripes on the wireless tower of the Legation, and at night six red lights. On receipt of this warning Americans are instructed to concentrate on three given points, from which they will be escorted to the Legation.-—A. and N.Z. Cable. POSITION AT HANKOW. SERIOUS SITUATION DEVELOPING. BRITISHERS AND AMERICANS BEING EVACUATED. PEKING, January 21. A private foreign wire from Hankow states that the situation there has developed seriously. A thousand Britisn and American men are being evacuated. No official confirmation has been received op to the present.—A. and N.Z. Cable. © SPAIN TAKES A HAND. TROOPS FOR SHANGHAI. LONDON, January 20. The Madrid correspondent of the Daily News says that a detachment of troops Is also going to Shanghai.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BRITISH GOVERNMENT CONFERENCES. POSITION EXPLAINED TO PARTS' LEADERS. LONDON, January 20. In accordance with custom. Sir Austen Chamberlain had conferences with Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Mr. Lloyd 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. HANKOW QUIET. ANTI-FOREIGN FEELING. FRENCH CONSUL HELD PRISONER. PEKING, January 21. A naval wireless message states that the situation at Hankow is quiet, an,7 that conversations arc proceeding between Mr O'Malley and Mr Chen. The situation at Kiukiang is serious. The French Consul was held a prisoner by strike pickets, and was released only on .the foreigners undertaking that he •would not leave the concession. At lebang virulent anti-British posters •were distributed. More refugees have left for Hankow. At Shasi the military endeavoured to commandeer a British tug, but the warship Cockchafer effected its release. Anti-foreignism is rampant at Amoy, Foochow, Swatow, and Canton. —Sydney Sun Cable. MR RAMSAY MACDONALD'S STATEMENT. SUPPRESSION OF FORCE URGED. LONDON, January 21. Mr Ramsay MacDonald makes a statement in the Daily Herald regarding his position on the China situation. “Precautions must, be taken,” he said, “till negotiations have removed the dangers, but precautions can be easily overdone. No one should welcome more than Mr Chen precautions that mean no menace to him. My fear is that the limits of wisdom are being exceeded, and that Mr Chen may think that the forces are being gathered as a fleet. I do not think this is Sir Austen Chamberlain's intention, but the programmes of action have an unfortunate habit of setting intentions aside. Let British Labour keep in touch with Mr Chen as well as their own Government, and put up the strongest plea they can for both sides to negotiate for the suppressing of force. I hope that, the Government will issue as soon as expedient instructions to Mr O'Malley.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. BRITISH REGIMENTS ORDERS. ALL LEAVE STOPPED. LONDON, January 21. (Received Jan. 23. at 5.5 p.m.) The Carneronian Highlanders and the first battalion of the Middlesex Regiment have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to China. All leave has been stopped.—A. and N.Z. Cable. JAPAN’S ATTITUDE. “COURTEOUSLY DECLINED.” TOKIO, January 22. (Received Jan. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) The newspapers assert that Great Britain has asked Jap n to assist in an effort to restore her lost position of the Yangtse-kiang, but Japan has courteously declined, pointing out the delicacy of the situation.—A. and N.Z. Cable. WARSHIPS FOR CHINA. PORT SAID, January 21. (Received Jan. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) The warships Frobisher, Delhi, Danae, and Dragon have arrived here, and are refuelling. They are proceeding to China immediately.—A. and N.Z. Cable. NAVAL AND MILITARY DISPOSITIONS. PRECAUTIONARY ONLY. LONDON, January 21. (Received Jan. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) After a Cabinet meeting the Government issued a statement reiterating that the naval and military dispositions in connection with China are precautionary. Sensational announcements in this connection should be. deprecated and disregarded. The Government's sole object is to fulfil the elementary duty of protecting British lives. There is no modification of conciliatorincss towards the legitimate aspirations of Chinese Nationalism, laid down in the Memorandum of December 25 last. Ou the contrary, conversations are progressing at Hankow and Peking, which, if successful. will largely realise the concessions

which the Government is willing to make for the purpose of placing Anglo-Chinese relations ou an equitable and mutually profitable basis, leading to a friendly settlement. Mr Baldwin delayed his departure to Chequers in order that he might preside at •' Cabinet meeting. The significance of Mr Lloyd ami Mr Ramsay MacDonald s interviews with Sir Austen Chamberlain was that Great Britain’s decision to make a final stand at. Shanghai with whatever military and naval forces are needed in defence of British interests was fully explained, and it is understood that both Mr Lloyd George and Mr MacDonald assented to this. —A. and N.Z. Cable. STEAMER COMMANDEERED. SYDNEY, January 23. (Received Jan. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) An echo of the Chinese trouble is to be found in advices received from Calcutta that the British-India steamer, which usually runs to Australia, tyas been commandeered by the Indian Government to send to China. A smaller steamer replaces her on the Australian run. BRITISH WAR OFFICE ACTIVITIES. FOUR BATTALIONS ORDERED OUT? PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. LONDON, January 22. (Received Jan. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) A War Office communique states that four battalions have been ordered to proceed to China, including certain categories of reservists. ~A semi-official explanation says that overmuch importance must not be attached to the calling up of reservists, who are only those recently discharged. There is no intention of calling up the reserves generally. By Royal Proclamation it is reiterated that the situation in China shows no change; therefore the decision is not taken because of alarming news received, hut it would be futile to await bloodshed before taking precautions. Such measures are merely precautionary. The proclamation proceeds: “We cannot too strongly emphasise that the British ' eminent has no warlike intentions.’ Negotiations may be slow, but they always are with the Chinese. —A. ana N.Z. Cable. TROOPS FROM INDIA DELHI, January 22. (Received Jan, 23, at 11.5 p.m.) The Indian Government has chartered two Apcar line steamers to convey troops to China. It is understood that the 20th Infantry Brigade from Jhansi, consisting of British artillery and infantry and Indian troops will embark in a few days at Calcutta. —A. and N.Z. Cable. TRAMWAY STRIKE AT SHANGHAI. RIOT SQUADS CALLED'OUT. FIERCE FIGHTING. SHANGHAI, January 22. (Received Jan. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) In connection with the tramway strike the workers i took possession of several trams, entered the British settlement, and created disturbances. Simultaneously an attempt was made to capture the central police station) riot squads were called out and after a fierce fight and the firing of shots in the air the police dispersed the rioters, and several leaders were arrested. The omnibus attendants to-day joined the strike. The police have been mobilise!? in anticipation of further trouble. —A. and N.Z. Cable. CANTON VILLAGES MISSION. REMOVAL OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The Presbyterian Foreign Missions Committee has received the following cablegrams from the Council of the Canton Villages Mission : “Hongkong, January 15.—British Minister’s communication of January 7 advises Britishers to leave the interior, including Kong Chuen. The new nurses, wives of missionaries, and children are removing. The other members of the mission will remain in the meantime, ana are watching the situation carefully. Local conditions are still quiet.” “Hongkong, January 20.—Kong Chuen temporarily evacuated. All the missionaries are at Hongkong except Davies, Kirk, and Miller, who are at Pak Hok Pung. Preparing transfer control to Synod.” The headquarters of the New Zealand Presbyterian Mission is at Kong Chuen, 12 miles by rail from Canton. Included among the missionaries there were the two newly-appointed nurses. Miss Goodson and Miss Robertson. The Revs. H. Davies' and A. L. Miller and Dr John Kirk are senior missionaries. Pak Hok Pung, where they are meanwhile, is a suburb of Canton. It is the seat of the Union Theological College, where the Rev. G. H. M’Ncur, at present in New Zealand on furlough, is one of the staff, and where Mr Davies is at present relieving him. Arrangements have been underway for some time to transfer the control of the work of the mission to the Synod of the Chnrch of Christ in China, a united church including Presbyterians, Congrcgationalists, and others. The process of transfer has no doubt been hastened owing to political circumstances. It does not necessarily involve the displacement of the missionaries, whose present withdrawal is expected to be merely temporary.