BOUND FOR CHINA ACTIVITY IN BRITISH FORCES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10310, 20 January 1927, Page 5

BOUND FOR CHINA

ACTIVITY IN BRITISH FORCES

CRUISER SQUADRON UNDER ORDERS FOR EAST. THOUSAND MARINES MAY SAIL NEXT WEEK. SIMPLY PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. (United Press Assn.—Copyright.) MALTA, Jan. 18. The cruiser squadron, with the exception of 11.M.5. Dauntless, sails for China to-morrow.—A.N.Z.C.A. (Received Jan. 19, 7.50 ,p.ni.) •LONDON, Jan. 18. The warship Dauntless rejoins the squadron later. The hospital ship Maine, at present in dock, will proceed to China shortly.—A.N.Z.C.A. LONDON, Jan. 18.

The Evening News states that tlie Admiralty has chartered transports to convey all the available marines to China. The first transport is sailing from Portsmouth on January 21. —A. and N.Z.C.A. (Received Jan. 19, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18. One thousand marines at Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth depots are ready to proceed to China, and may sail next week. It is officially emphasized that the despatch of these, if they go, does not indicate offensive measures, but simply a precautionary measure against rioting, and for the defence of British life and property. The despatch of the cruisers is similarly intended.—A.N .Z.C. A. BRITAIN’S PREPARATIONS MADE IN GOOD TIME. POWERFUL FLEET IN CHINESE WATERS SHORTLY. OVER 10,000 NAVAL RATINGS. (Received Jan. 19, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says it is realised in Government circles that preparations for coping with any grave emergencies must be made in good time, whether naval, military or aerial, ii any Power is not conscious of its responsibilities or is unwiling to shoulder them, Britain, it is asserted, will certainly shoulder her share. When the First Cruiser Squadron arrives in China Britain’s naval strength will be brought up to. thirteen cruisers with aircraft carriers, eight destroyers, and other units. Nearly one half of the cruisers in full commission will be concentrated in Chinese waters and the number of naval ratings will exceed 10,000. —A.N.Z.C.A. BRITAIN’S POLICY UNCHANGED. BUT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN SHANGHAI WILL BE PROTECTED. / (Received Jan. 19, 9.20 .mm.) LONDON, Jan. 18. The Government’s policy regarding China is unchanged, and is still based on the memorandum of December 2o; said the Attorney General, Sir G. Hogg, in his speech in London. '“D the invitation we have offered is accepted, the Chinese authorities will not find us either ungenerous or unreasonable, but if they should be encouraged bv our forbearance at Hankow into the belief that similar events can be repeated at Shanghai or elsewhere, then it is the Government’s paramount duty to see that British lives and British property are protected.—A.N.Z.C.A. [The British memorandum of December 25 stated that tlie Powers declare their readiness to negotiate on treaty revision, and all other outstanding questions as soon as the Chinese themselves have constituted a stable authority.] (Received Jam 19, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, Jam 19

Sir 0- Hogg, Attorney-Goner. I, speaking at the East End, detuned the Government’s pariim.-uit duly to see that the 'liberals of o :r people in China were protected. J eieonally he hoped we might be able to l.e’giGate an hon/ruble understanding. but we must be prepared fo face tlie alternative. 'I ‘.’ore were in Shanghai alone some sixteen hundred British subjects and many millions worth of British'property, and :f the Chinese authorities refused to safeguard their lives it became the duty of the Government to protect these interests themselves. It was obvious such a decision would possibly grave consequences.—A.N.Z.C.A.

CHEN’S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TROOP'S. DEMANDS OF NATIONALISTS. UNEQUAL TREATIES MUST BE CANCELLED. HUMILIATION OF BRITISH NOT DESIRED. (Received Jan. 19, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18. The Daily Express publishes a special despatch from Chen, in which, describing recent events in Hankow-, lie charges the British with bayoneting several Chinese forming part of the loyal crowd on the boundary ox the British concession. He also gives details of the events which led to the Chinese Municipal Commission taking charge of affairs, and goes on to say: “Britain, in the first place, subjected Clhina to the political and economic control of the West, the typical features of which were expressed in the British control of Chinese Customs, extra-territoriality of alien-ad-ministered settlements, and other limitations of Chinese sovereignty concerned in unequal treaties. The country is so controlled that it is fettered and obviously is not independent. Chinese Nationalism, therefore, de : mands the handing back of the lost independence of China. Our terms are the cancellation of unequal treaties upon which the regime of foreign imperialism in China is based. The situation arising out of the. new status quoin the concession is not only profoundly significant as an act m history, but it is’a direct summons to British statesmanship to take the lead in recognising the justice of the Nationalist demand for Chinese independence, arid to proceed to redress a great historic wrong. I categoncailv repudiate the suggestion that British humiliation is desired by us. AVe demand a settlement of tho question of the concession, which shall not deny its effective re-incorporation within Chinese territorial system subject to the Nationalist recognition of the validity of all property rights of British nationals in the concession. —A.N.Z.C.A.

DEFENCE OF SHANGHAI. FRANCE; AVILL CO-OPERATE AVITH BRITAIN. (Received Jan. 19, 8.20 p.m ) 1 LONDON, Jan. 19. M Brianf. and Earl Crewe cussed the Chinese situation at length in Paris yesterday. , M. Briand said France was prepared to co-operate with the British fqr the defence of lives and property in Shanghai.—A.N.Z.C.A. EVACUATION OF CHENGTIS. MISSIONARIES PERSIST IN REMAINING. SHANGHAI, Jan. IS. Despite the order to evacuate the town, missionary men, women, and

children are staying on in Ohengtu. The Consul and vice-Consub aw.* leaving on Janury 21., Only six women remain 'liu A ha lgking.A ;N.Z.U A • '

JAPAN’S POLICY. STREET PROTECTION OF LEGAL RIGHTS. NO OBJECTION TO SURTAXES. BUT MONEY MUST NOT GO INTO CIVIL WAR FUNDS.

TOKIO, Jan. 18. Japan s China policy was announced in the Foreign .Minister’s speech in the Diet. It involves strict protection of Japan’s legal rights in China, which is unabridgeable and unmodifiable.

Conceding that the Chinese might fight long in a desire to establish such a- form of government as seems best to themselves, Japan holds that any form of foreign intervention seeking to impose any foreign-made plan upon the Chinese is bound to fail.

Japan is agreeable to the collection of surtaxes, provided that the spirit of the Washington Treaty is carried out, and provided that adequate provision is made reasonably to assure that the additional revenues will not go to the civil war or to the private use of any faction. Provided such guarantees are given, a resumption-of the Customs conference is desirable, at which Japan would welcome responsible representatives both from the North and South within the •Chinese delegation. Baron Shidehara denied the possibility of a Russo-Japanese clash in Manchuria, where the Soviet policy is one of trade only, the same as Japan’s. He regrets America has not adjusted the question of immigration discriminations, hut is glad a true understanding of Japan’s pacificism is growing among Americans.—Sun. JAPAN WILL NOT JOIN IN RAID ON CHINA’S RIGHTS. ENTIRELY FRIENDLY WITH SOVIET RUSSIA. TOKIO, Jan. 18. Probably the last session of the present Diet, the members of which were elected in 1924, has reopened. Those present heard a remarkable speech by the ex-Foreign Minister Baron, Shidehara, who proclaimed that japan, hitherto liad no reason to consider China infringing on any of japan’s rights. Japan could not participate in any raid upon China's rights, ambitions, or politics, but, on the contrary, would support China as long as China observed the laws recognised by tlie civilised world. Baron Shidehara asserted that no foreign plans for tlie control of China proposed by any foreign nation to suit its own convenience could now be imposed upon China, nor would China acquiesce in or submit to foreign dictation. Baron Shidehara also proclaimed Japan’s entire friendship with Soviet Russia, which definitely exploded the unjustifiable pessimism of those predicting a Russo-Japanese war over Manchuria.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

BELGIAN’S OFFER TO HAND OVER TIENTSIN CONCESSION. NO FOREIGNERS IN AREA. PEKIN, Jan. 18. Regarding Belgian’s offer to hand over the Tientsin concession, it is interesting to note that the China Year Book, 1926, gives its population as foreigners nil. Chinese population 2000” The territory is thus infinitesimal, and the Belgian action is merelv a friendly gesture.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

CHEN’S CHEQUERED CAREER. ALWAYS VIOLENTLY ANTIBRITISH. SHANGHAI, Jan. 18. Chen, desuite bis birth in a British possession, has long been violently anti-British. He voiced pro-Ger-man views as the correspondent of a Pekin newspaper in war time. Subsequently he edited the People’s Tribune in Pekin, when he vilified the British' as murderers, robbers and liars. Ho went to Canton after serving imprisonment for falsely it porting Changtsolin’s death, aud sprodilv became Prime Minister. —A. ana N.Z.C.A.