The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1927. DANGER IN CHINA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 8

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1927. DANGER IN CHINA.

Stories of terrible indignities are told by refugees from Nanking. Cantonese soldier's held up foreign residents at revolver point, tearing- oh their rings and jewels' and even their clothes. An American was shot dead before hisi wife’s, eyes. Residents who- refused to deliver money were bound and led tlu'ough the streets until rescued by friends. And so- om All foreigners south of the- Aangtse will soon be in Shanghai, yet Chinese in Shanghai are already leaving for what, they consider safety' points. Shanghai is at, bail-trigger tension. Demonstrations. are increasing, and it iss rumoured that the Cantonese extremists threaten to- storm Hie settlemen. Referring to the Nanking outrages, in a speech at Darlington, Mr Neville Chamberlain (Minister of Ifealth) accurately stated ihe British viewpoint when he said: “After ihe. intolerable outrages that have been inflicted on us- the very least we can do is- to demand (hat the guilty shall he punished, that an apology shall he made, and that s lie li" reparation as is possible shall he offered for the injuries that have been done. AA e desire to put .our demands forward in complete harmony and co-operation, with tin* other nations whose nationals have suffered. I trust that the Cantonese (jovermnenti, which, claims lo rank among the civilised peoples of the world, will do what any civilised nation would do, and will take steps to- find out who is guilty, and that it wiil satisfy the clem amis which wo shall put forward. But theie must he no evasion or denial of these responsibilities, which,, by ihe evidence not only of Biit.ish, but of other nationals, have already been proved to rest on ihe shoulders- of the Cantonese army; aud it must he clearly understood that neither in China nor anywhere else can British subjects be miiurdered, robbed, and insulted with impunity.” . In the- relief which every Britisher must feel at learning of the safety of many Europeans in Shanghai, who it was feared had been massacred in the danger spots, there is one fact which stands out very clearly through all the warring- disorders with which China is at present afflicted. Of the rights- 1 and wrongs of ihe quarrels between various parties, it is haul for the average man to- judge at so great a distance, but it, is abundantly plain to- him that the British ave once more saved a situation which was full of the ugliest possibilities. What happened in a degree at Nanking would have happened in a far greater and more fearful measure, had It not been for prompt military action in the defence of foreigners isolated in the midst of a multitude which had been spurred to wild excitement and hate. What happened at Nanking might easily have happened at Shanghai—indeed, would almost certainly have happened—if Britain had not been sagacious enough, through her rulers, to rush a- sufficient protective force to the scene before the trouble came to a head. Once again Britain has carried the white man’s burden and that in the face of the usual amount of hitter misrepresentation and insensate opposition, some of it coming even from her own people, of whom tiro purbland and narrow-visioned unfortunately form a. section. “If you will only adopt, a, conciliatory attitude towards the Chinese,” be British Government was told at home and abroad, “all will be well.”* The weak-kneed givers of advice such as this, may even attempt to justify their attitude by declaring tliat the peril of the foreigners in China was entirely due to the presence of the forces sent there to protect them, AA r hcn a. certain type of mind begins to twist facts in order to suit arguments, there is no- telling how far it will go. It is this kind of adviser who, when the catastrophe has come, wrings his muds and mourns loudly over the lamentable occurrence brought about by the ineptitude which he loves. That, the world is not now 100-king with horrified eyes at catastrophe and outrage upon a large scale, is due to the promptitude with which the British Government acted. All danger is not, yet past. Recent cable messages have indicated that in the foreign settlement at Shanghai, there is a certain “seepage” at the barriers, particularly into the French settlement, -where, according to expert British opinion, the forces entrusted with the defence are woefully inadequate. The British apparently, are. more alert to the deadly possibilities which. Me in the process of infiltration. It may he agreed with Latin logicality, characteristic of the French, that the admission into the settlements of a.n indefinite number of Chinese is fraught with no jreril if the men are unarmed. On the other hand, there is the human fact that if a large number of men, acting in concert, have the will to be armed, the chances are that they will find the opportunity. There is also the economic consideration. The more mouths there are within the settlements to be ed, the harder the task of the European administrators there.. Within the last day or two, Chiang Kai-s/rek has . dec.la.reu bat there is no- economic, weapon from the use of which he will refrain. It would seem possible.

therefore, that an attempt ma\ he made to convert an industrial blockade into a blockade of sustenance. Against that chance, fortunately, stand the British mercantile marine . and the British navy. Indications appear to- show, however, that a- new storm is brewing, since Russian propagandists are gathering in ihe vicinity of Shanghai, preparingl a drive to stir up the l.uasses,. The British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, however, has stated with commendable definiteness that Britain cannot attempt to negotiate in the present anarchical conditions, and that she must, be assured that the Chinese authorities can preserve order before 1 there is: any further .surrender of British rights.