AFFAIRS IN CHINA

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 14

AFFAIRS IN CHINA

ROBBERY, KILLING, AND LOOTING. PEKING, June 20. The Dragon Festival has passed. The Government remains afloat, but foreigners at many points in the interior feei that they are living on a volcano which any day may burst int-o flames. The Government failed to pay interest on the domestic loan, but an immediate financial crisis was averted by mortgaging future revenue. Symptomatic of the times are the mutinies at Ichang and Wuchang, where native troops ran amok, robbing, burning, and killing indiscriminately. Several hundred innocent Chinese were massacred and considerable damage was done to foreigners’ property. One mile of the principal streets in Wuchang was laid waste. The mutineers were allowed to escape in trains, which were packed with lcot. Troops in other districts were temporarily pacified by i’-e part payment of arrears, but they are likely to join a widespread revolt at anv moment. SHANGHAI, June 22. T he long-expected hostilities between tho province of Kwangtung and Kv.angsi have broken out, with fierce fighting. It is reported that the Kwangsi forces defeated the Cantonese on June 18, and succeeded in invading Western Kwangtung. Cheng Chiung Ming, Military Governor of Kwangtung. has left Canton in order personally to direct the attack against Wuchow. CHINA DISTRUSTS JAPAN. PEKING, June 22. The Foreign Minister (Mr Yen) has issued a statement that China believes that there is no occasion for opening negotiations with Japan relative to the restoration of Shantung, and he regards suspiciously the Japanese suggestions. If Japan intends unconditionally to restore the German-leased territory in Shantung she should announce that fact to the world unequivocally. If she proposes to make conditions in regard to such restitution she should frankly announce them for all nations to pronounce judgment-. China docs not wish to jeopardise her right to carry the Shantung question to the League of Nations by directly negotiating. The internationalisation of Tsitig-tao would meet with China’s approval.