CRISIS IN CHINA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10230, 8 January 1927, Page 7

CRISIS IN CHINA

BRITISH EVACUATE HANKOW

POPULATION SURPRISED

BLOODLESS VICTORY BY REDS

WHAT SHANGHAI TRADERS SAi

DEATH BLOW TO BRITISH PRESTIGE IN CHINA.

“RESTORATIVE . STEPS MUST BE

TAKEN’ 5

(United Press Assn.—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 6.

By 6 o’clock last evening it was extremely dangerous for any foreigner to appear in the British concession at Hankow. British volunteers, who were standing by headquarters all the afternoon and evening, by agreement with the Chinese authorities commenced evacuation at D. 30 p.m., all rifles, ammunition, and Lewis guns being removed in lorries and private cars carrying volunteers with Chinese troops on the footboards as a precaution against mobs. The evacuation; was carried out without a hitch by 2 o’clock in the morning. Many British residents were besieged by howling mobs after the evacuation.

The headquarters are now in charge of Chinese soldiery, and this morning pickets of soldiers are keeping order. The population was surprised by the fact that the concession was allowed to be taken over without defence. All Chinese workers in British firms have been called out to attend an anti-British mass meeting. Delinquents will be forced to attend. Business men in Shanghai regard the loss of Hankow as a British concession as a death blow to British prestige in China unless immediate steps are taken for its recovery. This is accentuated by the fact that Chinese aid was asked to combat the disturbances.

The primary purpose of the foreign navies in China is to protect foreign lives ana property, yet on a crisis arising the navy retired, abandoning foreign property to the mercy of the mobs. Britain, no doubt, was faced by the most difficult situation in the history of Anglo-Chinese relations. The riots were well planned, the Beds knowing that an« insufficient British force was available to combat the disorders. British residents are of divided opinion concerning Britain’s best course. Failure to regain the concession obviously means the early abolition of other treaty* port concessions, and the loss of the only guarantee of safety of millions of foreign capital and thousands of lives. Britain is facing the disorders alone. There is not a single instance of other nationals neing molested.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

HUMILIATING STORY

SMALLNESS OF BRITISH FORCE LED TO DECISION.

CONCESSION CONTROLLED BY

CHINESE

SHANGHAI, Jan. 0. TJie story of the evacuation of the British concession at Hankow is the most humiliating in the history or foreigners in China. While owing to the distance full details are not available sufficient have arrived in private messages to indicate the total failure of the British preparations to meet the situation created by Kuomintung agitators. The smallness of the British forces available led the British authorities to decide to evacuate the volunteer forces, and not to land sailors from the ships. The position now is that the b>ntish concession is no longer controlled bv Britain, but is m the hands m Chinese-Nationalists. This with tinevacuation of women and c-hildien from Kiukiang, Wuhan and Icliang constitutes an almost complete evacuation of the Yangtsze Valley, a most damaging blow to British prestige in the Far East.—Sun.

ULTIMATUM TO BRITAIN

RIDICULOUS DEMANDS

COMPLIANCE ESSENTIAL WITHIN 72 HOURS.

SHANGHAI, Jan. G

Representatives of laborers, fanners, merchants, students, and soldiers met and formulated a series of five articles, which, if approved by the National Government, will be presented to the British Consul. Article one contains tlio following eight points:— ] x x , (1) That a protest be sent to tlie Consul bv the National Government; ,(2) To request the British Government to pay an indemnity on those killed and* wounded on January 3; (d) To punish the British uniformed troops who used force, and hand them over to the Chinese authorities , (4) To abolish all volunteers and send the gunboats away ; (5) To apologise to the Chinese Government; . ... , (G) That the Chinese 111 the British concession must be allowed to hold mass meetings, make speeches, and hold processions; (7) Volunteers and armed police must no longer carry arms or wear uniforms; (8) The Chinese Government must send civil and armed police to the British concession to maintain peace and order, and headquarters of garrison troops to he established there. Article 2 provides that a big demonstration and parade be held in the native city Tll the afternoon. Article 3 states that an economic boycotting committee should be organised. Article 4 demands that a boycotting of the British committee of Wuhan cities he organised. Article 5 provides for telegraphing .throughout the world declaring the outlawry of the British. The foregoing ultimatum must be complied with within 72 hours. — A. and N.Z.C.A.

A TOKIO REPORT.

BRITISH FIRED ON MOB

NEW CRISIS FEARED

TOKIO, Jan. G

Political parties and business men of Tokio and Osaka are much disturbed by dispatches from Hankow briefly outlining a serious situation, especially affecting British merchants and residents. A Japanese news agency report says the Chinese occupied the concession, driving out the British. It is understood here that a new situation was created by the action of the British police in firing on the Chinese mob, killing one. It is feared that a new crisis has arisen. -Much depends upon the British answer to a fresh Kuomintung challenge. A. and N.Z.C.A.

' FIGHTING NEAR HANGCHOW. SHANGHAI, Jan. 6. It is reported that Sunchuanfang has captured Fuyang, 20 miles Dom Hangchow. This means that bun Ohuan Fang’s forces have gamed a decisive victory. . ~ ~ , Reports from Canton indicate that Chiangkaishek is leaving Julian to direct a new attack on Hangchow. Fighting is continuing in the viemitj of Hangchow.— A.N.Z.C.A.

i ADMIRAL REPORTED DASHL&O TO HANKOW

ULTIMATUM TO CEASE OUTRAGES IMMEDIATELY,

FORCE .WILL BE USED IN CASE OF REFUSAL.

(Received Jan. 7/9.6 p.m. ) ' SHANGHAI, Jan. 7.

A later message states that ViceAdmiral Tyrwhitt, the new Command er-in-Chief of the British China Squadron, is reported to be dashing to Hankow in a destroyer armed with an ultimatum that Britain is unable to tolerate any further anti-British outrages and that unless they cease immediately,-the concession restored, and the molestations of nationals ended, force will be used.—A.N.Z.C.A.

TO BE HANDED BACK TO BRITISH.

EXTREMISTS’ ACTION DENOUNCED BY CHINESE LEADER, ,

(Received Jari. 7, 11 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 7

The Hankow concession is to be handed back to the British again to contnol with their own police, who are operating with the assistance of the Cantonese military police. Chuangkaishek is to issue a proclamation denouncing the action of the extremists’.—Sun.

CHINESE AND BRITISH GUARD

CONCESSION

MODERATES DEPRECATE EXTREMISTS’ ACTION

(Received Jan. 7,9. v p.m.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 7

The situation at Hankow is quiet

Th main gate between the concession and the Chinese city remains open. Chinese military police are guarding the concession in conjunction with British naval and marine forces who have been landed and who are on the best of terms with the ■Chinese guard. There is evidence that the more moderate elements in the Nationalist Government deprecate the recent incidents. — A.N.Z.C.A. (Received Jan. 8. 1.2-5 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Jan. /. All Chinese soldiery, excepting the military police, have heen withdrawn from the British concession at Hankow. —A. and N.Z.C.A.

BRITISH OFFICIAL ATTITUDE

CLASH WITH UNRULY NATIVES MUST BE AVOIDED

WOULD PLAY INTO HANDS OF BOLSHEVIKS

(Received Jan. 7. 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. The British official attitude re-, garding lJayikow is that a clash with the uprulv native ele -lent should he avoided The last thing desired _is that the Bolshevist influence behind the mob should use the deaths of any Chinese at the British hands as justification for further violence.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

SMUGGLED RIFLES FOR SHANGHAI.

CHINESE SEAMAN FINED £3lO

IN LONDON

LONDON, Jan. 7

A Chinese seaman was fined £340, treble the value of the goods, in default three months’ imprisonment, at East Ham Police Court for hiding among the hot water pipes in the hold of the steamer Glengarry 48 rifles and 4750 rounds of ammunition, smuggled from Hamburg for Shanghai.—A. and N.Z.C.A.