Anti-British, Anti-American Outbursts In China

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 January 1948, Page 5

Anti-British, Anti-American Outbursts In China

RESENTMENT AT EVICTIONS OF CHINESE FROM KOWLOON

Received 7 p.m. SHANGHAI, Jan. 17 There have been anti-British and anti-American outbursts and demonstrations in China following the eviction of Chinese residents from Kowloon City. > It was reported yesterday that the British Consular offices in Canton were wrecked and set on fire. Ten thousand students denounced Britain and the United States equally at a noisy but incidentless demonstration in Shanghai this afternoon outside the British Consulate-General in protest against the Kowloon

Singing, flag-waving students dispersed after three hours only when a deputation was permitted to enter bearing a petition to the Consul-General, the nature of which is unknown, but which is believed to be on the lines of “an ultimatum” handed to the Consulate. yesterday by nine student representatives demanding: “In view of the fact that Hongkong and Kowloon are part of China, the Chinese Government wishes to take back the disputed territory, and will ask the British Government to enter diplomatic negotiations on the issue. “That Britain pay compensation to the evicted squatters, punish those guilty of the reported atrocities which resulted in the wounding of innocent women and children, and release two arrested Chinese.” The students svarned that if no reply is forthcoming within one week the Chinese would adopt "the same spirit displayed against Japanese aggression.” Consulate women and children were evacuated when the demonstration started, while the commander of the British sloop Alacrity organised lorries for speedy evacuation, should that become necessary. The demonstration followed the issue of a manifesto by more than 30 Government and private universities branding the Hongkong Government as “imperialistic.” TROUBLE AT CANTON. The British Consular offices in Canton were wrecked and set on fire in the worst anti-British demonstration experienced in Canton, The Consular personnel are safe, The offices of Reuters and Butterfield and Swires, near the consulate, were also wrecked. The demonstration was a protest against the eviction of Chinese residents from Kowloon City. The British flag was pulled down and fum’ture, documents, and clothing thrown into a bonfire. The British consular offices occupied a 75 yards square walled compound in the central position of the Island of Shameen, which was formerly a British and French concession, and in the Pearl River, near the centre of Canton. Other buildings burned and destroyed included the chartered bank of Jardine and Mathieson. The mob was un-

checked and the fires raged without interference. Three hours later, gendarmes and lire brigades arrived. The Chines® have now left the island and everything is quiet. The foreign community, however, is remaining indoors. The riot, which- lasted for two hours, started in Chungshan University, where speakers harrangued students, who surged towards the Consulate, while loudspeaker trucks roamed through the streets blaring Inflammatory speeches. The few policemen guarding the bridge to Shameen Island were easily overwhelmed. The British Embassy in Nanking has protested to the Chinese Foreign Office about the burning of the offices and has asked for Increased guards around the embassy. Dr. T. V. Soong, Governor of Kangtung, apologised for the Canton incident and warned the people that a repetition would be dealt with by force. The Mayor of Canton told the British Consul General that the authorities were determined to give every protection to foreign residents in Canton.

A British missionary, Mr. John Williams, and his wife, are missing. Hongkong Airways will begin the evacuation of British residents from Canton to-day. Regular air services to Canton have been cancelled.