Chinese Upheaval.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 April 1927, Page 5

Chinese Upheaval.

THE BRITISH NOTE.

Demands Somewhat Modified.

(Electric Telegraph —Press Association.—Copyright.),

Although the terms will not be published prior to presentation, the Australian Press Association learns reliably that the British Cabinet has somewhat modified the demand?, originally suggested by the Diplomatic Corps at Peking. France and Italy will not be parties to the Notes, but these Powers have been kept fully posted on the negotiations through their Ambassadors at Peking. It is understood that the demands include complete reparation for all damage done to foreign property at Nanking, a public apology, and the trial by Chinese Courts of the officers who authorised and even commanded the outrages. No hint is obtainable as to the nature of any threat of reprisals the Note may contain. In the meantime the looting- of foreign property at Nanking continues. Everything movable, even the gas and electricity fittings, have’ been taken.

The War Office expects the Noithamptons and Guards to embark for China on April lltli, and the remainder of the reinforcements on April 13th.

SITUATION BECOMING GRAVER

IN YANGTZE REGION.

(Received Thursday, 9.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Wednesday.

A general strike and boycott of all foreign goods in the entire Yangtsze region has commenced, and the situation is rapidly becoming graver.

All the Japanese are evacuating- the Yangtse Valley. The warships of the international Asiatic fleets are rushing to important ports and a large fleet is concentrating at Hankow, The Japanese admiral has sworn on his word of honour to prevent the Chinese trespassing on the Japanese concession. Ho promises to maintain the dignity of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The present strength of the Japanese landing party at Hankow is 300, and is being hurriedly reinforced. The cruiser Tentyu is en route. A wireless from Nanking saYs that the anti-foreign feeling is still evident, and that foreign houses are being looted. A Northern aeroplane dropped two bombs at Pukow and three at Nanking city.

A DEBATE ON CHINA,

(Received Thursday, 9.65 a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday.

In the House of Commons there was a crowded attendance w en Mr MacDonald initiated a debate on China. He said that no one could say what was going to happegotiating difficulties wit on defence force had increased our nen. The despatch of the Shang ai increasing the protection for Britishers outside Shanghai. lc also fed the traditional Chinese suspicion, though he believed ha this was without foundation. Not Shanghai, but the whole of China, was the immediate test of our policy. Nobody could say before an inquiry was made what had happened in Nanking; therefore, he urged the Government to use the League method of inquiry. Personally le was most glad that Eritain, America and Japan to-day were presenting Notes and not ultimatums. There should he a clear statemen that we still stood where we wore at Christmas. If the League Nations could make the Nanking inquiry it would do a tremendous lot of good. He hoped Sir A. Chamberlain would not decline to use the League. They should know that was in the mind of the War Office in sending out more troops, and how far we were acting alone i;n such matters. It was not in British interests as the market or our goods was circumscribed and barred by prejudice and ill will. The Chinese had learned the power of boycott. Mr R. Mitchell Banks (Conservative) said that Mr MacDonald s speech recalled the proverb that in the kingdom of the blind a oneeyed man was king. He wished Mr MacDonald could give some vision to his party, hut, unfortunately, his kingdom was governed not fiom the throne but from the ante chamber. Mr. MacDonald had said that the revolutionary propaganda in the East was based on history, but Mr Mitchell Banks declared that th e Independent Labour Party was busy preparing history upon which to base propaganda. If anY body spread suspicion it was the Labour Party by meetings and resolutions, and if there should be disaster they would be its chief authors. If Sir A. Chamberlain had to defend himself it would be against th e pushing of the virtue of patience almost to a fault. Sun.

FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS,

(Received Thursday, 9.15 a.m.)

PARIS, Wednesday

The “’Echo do Paris” states that Cabinet is considering the despatch to Shanghai of another cruiser aud six hundred troops.

POLICY OF JAPAN,

TOKIO, Wednesday. The Japanese Government has decided on a policy of withdrawal of all Japanese residents in the inteiior of China, pending settlements, and are not depending on chaotic China for the? protection of Japanese nationals, or holding a .non-exbtent Chinese Government responsible for mob action, ( abiy,(t has decided that this is the best method of rendering assistance to a neighbour, pending the final and definite negotiation of new treaties or the establishment of a Government able to take control of concentrations, Japanese residents in China and at Hankow alreadv have boon ordered to leave the countrv, and will be taken aboard Government ships. Japanese warships will remain in all ports in China guarding Japanese property.

ARBITRATION PLEA,

LO X DON, Wo d n esd ay

Tiie Labour National Joint Council, at a meeting held in the House of Commons, passed a resolution appealing to the Government, in view of the contradictory reports from Nanking, to refrain from presenting flip Chinese authorities with anything in the nature of an ultimatum based on ex parte statements, the rejection of which would lead to a state of warfare, and demanding that the Government immediately open negotiations.- and, in the event of a disagreement, to submit the outstanding points to an argitration tribunal, under the aegis of the League of Nations, undertaking not to make claims

FUNDS FOR. CANTONESE,

LONDON, Wednesday. Following a consultation with Washington and Tokio, the terms of the British Note to the Chinese Nationalists have been telegraphed to Sir Miles Lampscn at Peking. The Note will be presented simultaneously "with identical American and Japanese Notes to the Nationalist Government at Hankow.

in China except in accordance with the tribunal’s decision.

LON DON, Wednesday

BRITAIN’S CHINA TRADE,

LONDON, Wednesday

JOURNALISTS ARRESTED.

PEKING, Wednesday

‘•The Times” Constantinople correspondent says he has learned that Mos'cow is transmitting substantial sums to the Cantonese, from which centre money is being telegraphed to the different merchants in China, as pretended payment for goods bought by Turkish merchants in ( hinn. it is stated that a hundred thousand dollars have boon thus transmitted during the past ; ix weeks. —“Th e Times. ”

Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, President of the Board of Trade, in the course of a written reply regarding Britain s exports to China, showed that in .1920 thev were £41,761,000; in 192.1, £24,S.p.ooi); in 1922, '£21,837,000; 1923, £17,290,000; 1924, £19,082,000; 1925, £13,535,000; and the imports from China were:—l92o, £4,238,000; 1921, £1,374.000; 1922, £1,910,000; 1923, £2,133,000; 1924, £2,952,000; 1925, £2,253.000.

Chinese police have arrested Mr Wilbur Burton and Mrs Mildred Mitcliell, American news'writers, on charges of being propagandists for the Nationalist Government, tending to overthrow constituted authorities, and incite the Peking public to disorder. The alleged propagandists are guarded at a hotel by Chinese police, pending their being handed over to the United .States authorities. Both prisoners were formerly employed on Shanghai newspapers, and wrote pro-Nationalist articles, which were featured in the Nationalist Press.