POSITION IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20289, 23 December 1927, Page 9

POSITION IN CHINA

GOODS CONFISCATED. NO SECURITY FOR TRADE. NORTHERNERS RESPONSIBLE. (British Official Wireless.) (Ficm Association— Bj le.egraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, December 21. In the House of Commons the Foreign Secretary was asked if he was aware ol the disregard of reasonable security for trade shown by some of the Northern Chinese leaders, and especially by the Military Governor of* Shantung, in whose territory open confiscation of valuable British merchandise had recently occurred. Sir Austen Chamberlain replied that on December 15 the British Minister at Peking reported that thfi Shantung authorities were threatening the confiscation of a consignment of goods valued at some 400,000d01, or £40,000, belonging to a British company. These goods were being conveyed in boats on the Grand canal from Tientsin to Southern Chihli. At Lintsing, 4 in Shantung, they were held up for enforcement of various irregular taxes. The company agreed to pay these taxes, but, witwithstanding, orders were given for tfie confiscation of the goods. It was alleged that these orders emanated from Chang Tsung-chang, the Military Governor oi Shantung. In any case, the action of the Shantung authorities appeared to be pure robbery. Sir Miles Lampson made the strongest possible verbal representations to the Foreign Minister in Peking, who promised to do his best, and take up the matter with the Prime Minister and Marshal Chang Tso-lin’s headquarters. He confessed, however, that he himself had no authority in Shantung. The British Government could not overlook the gross violation of the elementary rights of British merchants, and counted on Marshal Chang Tso-lin, who claimed to control the province of Shantung, to take , steps to secure the release of these goods. ' Sir Austen Chamberlain was asked about the surrender by Britain of leases in tfie Chinese treaty ports conceded by the Chinese Government between 1851 and 1861. He replied that the value of these leases could not b.e accurately assessed at the present moment, but according to a valuation made .in 1922, previous to the outbreak of anti-foreign agitations in China, the worth of the reversionary interest in land and buildings held under leases with an unexpired term of approxi. mateiy 30 years, was £730,000. At a later date it was anticipated that these revisionary interests might have realised about £400,000. The position in China, however, rendered it impossible to proceed with the scheme for the sale of these interests without guarantees of tenure, which would be wholly inconsistent with the policy of the British Government The land was acquired under a perpetual lease from the Chinese Government, to Whom the fixed ground rent continued to be paid, and' concurrently by purchase from the actual Chinese owners. The concession areas were situated at Tientsin, Hankow, Kiukiang, Chinkiang, Amoy, and Canton. They consisted of a total of 232 •'acres divided into 234 lots. These properties ■were chiefly in British, but partly in other hands. They were to b e transferred to the present lotholders without P a Y' ment and unconditionally, except for the provision that the lotholders should bear any expenses arising from the assignment as regards future ownership. He had no reason to anticipate any change likely to be-detrimental to British interests, but it was the policy of the British Government to relax rather than to extend British control in the administration of these municipal areas. Other foreign Powers find : -mediately transferred their perpetual leases to their respective lotholders aau in no case was a foreign Government the ground landlord of any similar area in Chinese territory. PIRATES ON THE YANGTSE. PATROL OF BRITISH GUNBOATS. RUGBY, December 21. According to advices from China pirates are again active on the Yangtse between Shasi and Chenglin. British gunboats captured a pirate tug, but the crew escaped inland. A convoy of lighters was attacked from the river bank and British gunboats replied with their full armament. The gunboats at - present employed in “ pirate patrol ” are the Gnat, the Cricket, the Mantis, and the Teal. CONDITIONS AT CANTON. SPELL OF QUIETUDE LIKELY. HONGKONG, December 21. Now that conditions at Canton have quietened more attention is being given to the possibility of the city being retained by General Li Chai-sum, the moderate, whose forces dispossessed those of the Red General Chang Fat-kwai, some time ago. There is every indication that Sum’s forces are numerically superior to Kwai’s ironsides. Meanwhile Generals Li Fuklum and Hseih-yo declared their neutrality until they have seen which side wins; then they will co-operate with the winners- It is believed that a spell of comparative quietude is likely.—Sydney Sun Cable. GUARDING JAPANESE INTERESTS. CRUISER FOR TSINGTAO. TOKIO, December 21. The Japanese cruiser Nagara is leaving for Tsingtao with a landing party of bluejackets aboard. The authorities assert that'this step is merely doubling the assurance of the safety of Japan’s interests and her many subjects in Shantung, in view of China’s entire inability to afford protection to either her own assets or foreign lives.—A. and N.Z. Cable.