THE CHINESE TANGLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20292, 28 December 1927, Page 3

THE CHINESE TANGLE.

GENERAL STATE OF CHAOS. LAWLESSNESS DOMINANT. One of the residents of Dunedin at present is Mrs Urquhart, who returned quite recently after spending about a year in Shanghai, where she had a splendid opportunity of gaining first-hand knowledge of the chaotic conditions existing in China. Mrs Urquhart’s husband has been a resident of Shanghai for many years. He was connected with a shipping company for 28 years, and retired about two years ago. He is now connected with Messrs Hopkins and iJunn, a very old firm of merchants, land valuers, and ship’s brokers. _ . When Mrs Urquhart arrived in China about the beginning of the year vigorous preparations for the defence of the town were in progress. The whole of the European settlement was surrounded by birb-wire as a protection against attacks by the Chinese. Mrs Urquhart speaks in glowing terms of the prompt steps taken by the British Government in protecting the foreigners in China, and is convinced that but for that action matters would have been much worse. The oehaviour of the troops was most commendable, • everything possible being done to avoid a conflict. But for their presence Shanghai would have been doomed. A lengthy message was sent by the foreign residents to the British Government expressing appreciation of its action. “It seems to me,” said Mrs Urquhart, “that Shanghai has been given over to lawlessness. Nc place is safe for a European, and just before I ' ft a British soldier was set upon by a gang of Chinese while he was out with friends. The administration of justice has been handed over to the Chinese, with the result that law-breakers do just as they like without much fear of being punished, and the criminal element is encouraged rather t v i discouraged. The police do their utmost to preserve law and order, but when i criminal is brought before the court either a very light sentence is imposed or the offender is sent into the Chine- e settlement, only to drift back again without delay. Every night there are several armed robberies, the victims being faced with a pistol, and if any resistance is offered shooting is resorted to without hesitation. If the police get on the tracks of the robbers a duel with firearms is the general result. Th- robbers prey largely on the wealthy Chinese in the settlement. Demands for money are freely made on the big firms, and if they are not met the people concerned are kidnapped without hesitation and held for ransom. When I left Shanghai a number of the bridges were guarded b" troops, and every vehicle that contained three Chinese was subjected to a search because there was a danger that one of the three might hav e been kidnapped. A search for arms was also made. A man of wealth was frequently held up in the street, and if he made a resistance he stood a good chance of being subjected to violence. In many of the big factories those in control have been killed, and the criminals have no compunction about going into homes and shooting the women, ■When Nanking fell some people had a terrible experience. In Shanghai, just before I left, a band of Chinese robbers entered the tramway offices in the French Settlement, and, though there were about 12 clerks in the building, they shot lie manager dead, and nobody dared to say anything. “ The trouble is partly due to the lack of good, leaders, partly to never-ending changes of those at the head of aliairs, and partly to the Bolshevist Influence exerted by the Russians. The Chinese have found the Bolshevist influence to be something in* the nature of a boomerang. At one time they encouraged the “ Reds,” thinking that they could use them just as it suited them, but they hav e since found it harder to get rid of them than they imagined. Strong measures are being taken now to combat the Russian menace. “ Just before I left a woman was elected to the position of judge of the court, but I' do not think she has ever taken up her duties. Apparently she was a very clever woman too. “ A Fascist movement has been started amongst the Chinese in Shanghai for their own protection, and is steadily gaining ground. “At present everything is in a most chaotic condition, and I do not think anyone can see a solution of the problem yet. There are a few strong men hero and there, but a leader to-day may dis appear from the scene almost immediately, and there is no continuity of any fixed policy. A man may have a strong army to-day, but if he meets with a reverse hie followers will ouickly desert him and join another leader.” Mrs Urquhart intends to return to Shanghai in about three months.