IN CHINA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19766, 14 February 1927, Page 7

IN CHINA

FURTHER DISCUSSIONS NO AGREEMENT YET COLLECTION OF SURTAXES NATIONALISTS APPOINT OFFICIALS. Received Feb. 13, 11.15 p.m. PEKING, Feb. 12. ’At the conclusion of a conference between Eugene Chen and Mr. Edward O’Malley it was officially stated that nothing was yet available for publication. The Nationalist Government has appointed a commission consisting of Chen, Tu Soong, and Sun Fo to investigate and report on the new situation in connection with the Customs created by the retirement of Sir Francis Aglen, which is regarded as a challenge from the Peking Government. It is officially stated that the Nationu alist Government does not recognise the appointment of Mr. Edwardes as successor to Sir Francis Aglen in the office of supervisor of Maritime customs. The Maritime Customs. The Chinese Superinter. r of Customs at Tientsin has been appointed for the c-’ 1 lection of surtaxes. It is intimated that any surtax paid into the Maritime Customs will not be regarded as legal. It is believed that the same policy wil] be adopted at other Northern treaty ports, thus obviating the difficulty of attempting to compel foreign Customs officials to collect the surtax. The Japanese Consul at Tientsin protected. but the British and Americans do net intend to act. Opinion in Shanghai is that if Chen signs the agreement it will bo because the Russian influence is unable to control the military and civil parties, represented respectively by the Southern commander and Chen. Bather than lose control of either party, the Russians may desist from the attempt to influence the Cantonese against an agreement that may be reached. Sir Austen Chamberlain’s speech in the House of Commons was favourably received here. Arrival of Troops. / Transports with two battalions of the Durhams and Gloucestershire infantry from India have arrived for the defence of Shanghai. There are now 23 foreign warships, three British battalions and 1000 United States marines at Shanghai. The Nationalist Ministry of Communications has sent an order to the Director of Geu- , oral of Posts at Peking to the effect 1 that in all territories under the Nation- ! alist Government, postal commissioners in all districts shall be appointed by the : Nationalist Ministry of Communications. No commissioners appointed from Peking will be allowed to assume or continue office after to-day. CANTONESE VICTORY AN UNCONFIRMED EEPOET. NORTHERNERS BETRAYED. Received Feb. 13, 8.10 p.m. SHANGHAI, Feb. 12. An unconfirmed report states that General Sun Chuan Fang was heavily defeated by the Cantonese and General Bei Boa San has already betrayed the Northerners and joined the Southerners. Interviewed by the Japanese Press Agency, General Yan Ku Ting. Marshal Chang Tso Lin’s Chief of Staff, said: *‘ It goes without saying that General Wu Pei Fu is on our side, but in view of a threatening section-in Chekiang the Seng Tenites will advance on Honan in order to restrain the activities of the Southern forces.” Referring to Chiang Kai Shek and the American proposal for the neutralisation of Shanghai, General Yan Ku Ting remarked that if Chiang Kai Shek would thoroughly suppress Communism in China it would not be impossil le to bring about a compromise between the Northern and Southern armies. ~ CONTROL OF THE COURTS A NEW ORDEE. CHINESE .JUDGES FOR FOREIGN PLAINTIFFS. Received Feb. 13, 5.5 p.m. SHANGHAI, Feb. 11. Chen has notified the Consulates that the Political Bureau has ordered that no more cases on behalf of foreign plaintiffs will be heard in the mixed Court. Such must be tried before a Chinese city magistrate without a Consular oftcial as assessor. THE RUSSIAN INFLUENCE DOES IT EXIST? RATIONALISM OLDER THAN COMMUNISM. Received Feb. 13, 5.5 pan. LONDON, Feb. 12. Referring to the proposal that Russians should be expciled from England on the ground that propaganda is being carried on from the Soviet trade delegations’ headquarters, a correspondent, Mr. Ppoley, writes that no steps are likely to be taken at present because

Britain’s trade with Russia amounts to several millions a year, while large machinery orders are actually in hand and further orders are in course of negotiation. Expulsion is therefore a considerable question for the Conservatives. On this subject the views of Liberals and Labour coincide, because the policy of expulsion is championed by those members of Cabinet who are most obnoxious to the Opposition. It is only I necessary for Mr. Churchill or Sir W. Joynson Hicks to propose anything for the Liberals vehemently to oppose it, while Labour invariably believes that England is always wrong. The mentality of Labour is evidenced * by their selection of a Chinese as a Labour candidate for Holborn. The real points to be considered are, however, whether Russia really is behind China or is being used by China. There is no evidence available that the heathen Chinee is any less heathen and wily than in the past. Furthermore, of what benefit is it to Russia, which has abandoned Communism at home, to communise China? Is it not more likely that Moscow’s interests in China are a reversion to the Tsarist foreign policy, which led to the RussoJapanese war? Chinese nationalism ante-dates Russian Bolshevism by many years and Dr. Sun Yat Set, the world had known long before it knew Lenin. Chen is his disciple, and just as Sun, when the Republic was established, discarded • the Japanese who generously aided him, so it is likely Chen wil] discard Borodin and the Soviet.