WASHINGTON RESTRAINS POWERS’ ACTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 12, 5 April 1927, Page 1

WASHINGTON RESTRAINS POWERS’ ACTION

NO JOINT ULTIMATUM

MODIFIED DEMANDS IN CHINA TRUCULENT SPIRIT IN NANKING Great Britain, America and Japan will not forward their reparation demands to the Chinese Nationalist Government in the form of an ultimatum. Washington has expressed a wish to modify the draft demands so that compliance with them will be easier and it is now probable that Great Britain and Japan will be able to agree to the joint action favoured by the United States. In the House of Commons, Sir Austin Chamberlain said that there was aii increasing spirit of truculence towards foreigners in Nanking and British ships had been fired on. There has been a new development in the Chinese Civil War, Marshal Chang Tso-lin having advanced southward against the Cantonese and captured Yencheng.

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Monday. Official circles admit that Great Britain, America and Japan are at present not agreed upon the dispatch of a joint Note to the Chinese Nationalists concerning the Nanking outrages. It is believed that the three Powers are agreed upon the necessity for serious demands for an apology and reparation, even upon the nature of these demands, but Great Britain does not object to the presentation of identical Notes instead of a joint Note. Authorities further hint at the probability that the Powers are not likely to intimate the nature of possible sanctions or reprisals in the event of non-compliance, probably reserving freedom of joint or individual action in this direction. Downing Street emphasises that the decision to dispatch reinforcements is in no way connected with the Nanking affair. The additional troops will take several weeks to reach China. They were being sent in consequence of the Shanghai Defence Force commander's desire to have mobile troops available for dispatch to other parts of China if and when needed. This can be taken as an intimation that the Nationalist northward sweep may ultimately necessitate the defence of British Nationals and property at Peking and Tientsin. Official circles frankly admit having no great faith in Chang Tso Lin’s ability to check permanently the Nationalist advance south of the Great Wall. However, he is regarded as being well able to hold Manchuria whatever happens. The latest news received at the Foreign Office shows no sign of an abatement of the hatred of foreigners. It is most significant that everywhere anti-British posters have been superseded by new ones inciting hostility to “the foreign devils of every nationality.”—Sun.

TRUCULENCE GROWS BRITISH SHIPS FIRED ON NATIONALISTS LEAVE INTERIOR By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Monday. In the House of Commons Sir Austen Chamberlain said that conditions in Nanking were becoming normal as far as the Chinese population was concerned, but the attitude of the Nationalists toward foreigners and foreign property was daily increasing in truculence. British steamers departing had been heavily fired on from the waterfront, and looting continued. Three civilians had been killed during the bombardment, but it was impossible to ascertain the military casualties, which were confined solely to troops engaged in the attack. It is estimated that six were killed and 15 wounded. The damage to property was infinitesimal. The British and Americans each dropped 76 shells in 70 minutes. In reply to questions he said there was no evidence fixing the responsibility for events at Nanking elsewhere than on China, but the antiMr. G. Lansbury, Labour member for Poplar, asked whether a direct contradiction by Sir Austen of Mr. Chen’s statements was not a good reason for the despatch of an independent mission to Nanking. Sir Austen replied frigidly: “I do not consider it part of my duty, as apparently you do, to disbelieve every foreign feeling generally, and antiBritish feeling in particular was undoubtedly encouraged and stimulated from Moscow. He thought it inexpedient to take further action on his Note or the Soviet reply at present. Answering further questions he said he understood that a Communist Government had been provisionally established in those parts of Shanghai outside the International Settlement. Even there the situation was not clear but he had reason to understand that there were two Chinese Governments more or less established there. The British Government on March 30 extended advice to approximately 200 Britishers in every part of the interior of China to withdraw to a place of safety. If they elected to disregard this advice they did so at their own risk and on their own responsibility. Though the situation in Hankow was easier a further crisis is anticipated, so steps have been taken to reduce the British community to a minimum. America was also evacuating nationals immediately. Sir Austen Chamberlain declared that when Mr. Chen said the Cantonese were not responsible for the looting and murder, he said what was contrary to the established facts. British representative.”—Sun. WAR LORD ADVANCES CIVIL WAR DEVELOPS YENCHENG CAPTURED By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright PEKING, Monday. It is officially announced from the headquarters of the Manchurian war lord, Marshal Chang Tso-lin, that the latter’s army has captured Yencheng. This town is down the Peking-Han-kow railway about 90 miles south of Cheng-chow. It is understood that Chang does not intend to advance further south at present in view of the possible danger to both flanks of his army but that he will await developments near the southern border of the Shantung province. The Nationalists are advancing northward in that direction against Marshal Chang Tsung-chang, commander of the Shantung army. If the news regarding Yencheng is time it means that Chang Tso-lin is now within 200 miles of Hankow and within 300 miles of the advance-guard of the Nationalist army in Southern Honan. —A. and N.Z.

NO AGGRAVATION FIRM MODERATE DEMANDS AMERICA’S POLICY STATED By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright WASHINGTON, Monday. The United Press Association states that the Government has sent delayed instructions to Mr. J. V. A. Mac Murray, United States Minister at Peking, regarding the Powers’ joint demands to the Nationalists. These instructions, it is believed, modify the joint draft demands which Mr. Mac Murray submitted to the State the British and Japanese Ministers. The new orders permit joint demands for indemnity for the Nanking and other outrages and request guarantees for the future protection of foreign lives and property, but they do not authorise an American or a joint ultimatum, t According to informed persons here, it is considered probable that Mr. Mac Murray and the British and Japanese Ministers at Peking will be able to agree upon joint action along the lines favoured by the Americans. —Sun. Apparently the Government is disposed to make allowances for the disturbed conditions incidental to the withdrawal of the Northern forces and the subsequent taking over of the control of the city by the Cantonese. The policy to be followed by America will be one of firmness, combined with moderation. The theory is that extreme demands would be useless and would probably aggravate an already tense situation. —A. and N.Z. ALWAYS WELCOME ENTERPRISE IN CHINA MR. CHEN’S ASSURANCE By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright Reed. S a.m. PARIS, Monday. The “Petit Parisien’s” Shanghai correspondent interviewed Mr. Eugene Chen who said the revolution was not a Communist one, although true Communists were collaborating with the Kuomintang Party. He did not fear Russian Communism “China,” he said, “will always welcome industries and capital from all European and American countries, and Nationalist Government will protect all economic enterprise.