FERMENT IN CHINA.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16545, 14 July 1925, Page 5

FERMENT IN CHINA.

BRITISH INITIATIVE

NEEDED IN CHINA

PLAIN WORDS FROM THE TIMES

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON. July 12.

The Times, in a leader, says:—"The. Chinese are not a feeble folk, and will not easily acquiesce in any attempt, to ruin cither their prestige or their trade. There is urgent necessity for firm British initiative towards China, which should- not lie circumvented and paralyser) by over-timid regard for Ihe intricacies of the international situation. Britain has too lons neglected her special advantages. She must in I lie present crisis, which overshadows everything else, in international affairs in immediate importance, take her own precautions. Armed intervention in Chinese internal affairs is, of course, impossible, but Britishers throughout, China must he rescued and protected in this emergency. This is not a question of merely providing refugee ships. It has become obviously necessary'to assure our naval strength in the Pacific, since a Chinese crisis, in which. Moscow is deeply implicated, is only the prelude to further complications, in which British interests in the Pacific are vitally concerned.

"The present state of Far Eastern affairs has an intimate connection with discussion of the cruiser programme. We must be assured that we have at our own unfettered disposal the means by which Britishers and British Far Eastern trade can be continually protected."

AMERICAN POLICY

OUTLINED BY PRESIDENT.

FULFILMENT OF OBLIGATIONS

(Sydney Sun Cable.) WASHINGTON, July 12

An announcement concerning America's attitude towards the situation in China was made by the President (Mr Calvin Coolidge) after he had held a lengthy conference with Mr F, B. Kellogg (United Slates Secretary of State). The President said — "The corner-stone of our policy regarding China is the scrupulous observance of our obligations to the Chinese which were entered into at the Washington Conference, and an insistence that the Government of China shall take adequate measures for the protection of foreigners and shall fulfil her obligations under the treaty."

RUSSIAN WAR MATERIAL.

ON WAY TO CANTON

(Router.) PEKIN, July 13

A semi-official Japanese agency at Canton says it is reliably stated that a Russian steamer with 1,500,000 rounds of cartridges is en route to Canton.from Vladivostock via Shanghai.

At a memorial service in the Chamber of Commerce at Hankow on Saturday—one month after the riots —• it is understood it was decided to take financial measures against the British banks; also to stop commercial relations and call out the employees of British traders and business people. U Changsha a strike of eoolies began on Friday and a general strike is to be started to-morrow.

LATER.

SOUSET AEROPLANES AT PEKIN.

WATER SUPPLY THREATENED

(Reuter.) Received 10.55 a.m. PEKIN, July 13

Three Soviet aeroplanes have arrived and a fourth machine is expected. Two machines are reported to have been disabled. The waterworks management has issued a notification to the effect that continued intimidation of employees will probably necessitate the cutting off of the water supply. A meeting of Labour union delegates asked the chairman to order the striking water supply workers to resume. The chairman said this could not be done till the British had complied with the Chinese demands.

CONFERENCE OF POWERS

A REPORT EXPLAINED

TOKIO, Juy 13

Japanese press messages from London report that a conference has been proposed among the Powers' representatives in London to .discuss the China situation, but, the Foreign Office states that these reports are exaggerated. As the documents concerning the Shanghai Municipal Council rights, etc., are in London, the British propose sending extracts to Shanghai, and with a view to insuring fairness, the Powers' representatives in London will assist in Ihc selection.

ANGRY STRIKERS

DEMAND OVERDUE PAY.

UNION OFFICIALS RUSTLED

(Reulcr.) Received t J. jO a.m. PEKIN, July 13

A thousand strikers at Shanghai assembled outside the General Labour Union premises in Chinese territory and angrily demanded strike pay, which they alleged was three days overdue. The money was not forthcoming and the crowd grew hostile to the Union officials, who, seeing themselves endangered, called for the assistance of the Chapci volunteers, and the latter dispersed the crowd with difficulty.

The crowd rushed the settlement, fnllowed by the volunteers. A municipal policeman ordered the latter to leave the sell lenient borders, and they obeyed. The policeman was cheered by Ibe strikers, who shouted, "we want work." Five hundred Fcnglieniics are now keeping order on the settlement borders.