LEAVING HANKOW

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10313, 24 January 1927, Page 5

LEAVING HANKOW

EVACUATION OF BRITISH AND AMERICANS SITUATION DEVELOPS SERIOUSLY U.S. MINISTER RECALLED TO PEKING FEARS OF DISORDERS BY FENGTIN AND MANCHURIAN FORCES (United Press Assn.—Copyright.) PEKIN.Jan. 21. A private foreign cable - message from’ Hankow states that the situation there has developed seriously. One thousand British and American men are being evacuated. No official confirmation of this news has been received up to the present. The American ' Minister, Mr McMurray, who was going to America to confer with Mr Kellogg regarding affairs in China, has been recalled to Pekin by a cable message from Washington. Hithrto there were no signs of disturbances, strikes or anti-foreign feeling here, but the authorities are taking all precautions. It is believed the Fengtin and the Manchurian forces are detennined to prevent trouble. Double guards with fixed bayonets are posted outside foreign residences, and picked patrols march the streets all night with orders to ruthlessly suppress disturbers of the peace. The American authorities have warned their nationals that the signal of trouble in the daytime will be a Blue Peter flown below the Stars and Stripes on the wireless tower of the Legation, and at night six red lights. On receipt of warning Americans are instructed to concentrate on three given points, from which they will be escorted to the Legation.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

BRITISH LABOR POLICY PLEA WITH BOTH SIDES FOR PEACE PRECAUTIONS CAN BE EASILY OVERDONE LONDON, J,’an. 21. Mr Ramsay MacDonald makes a statement in the Dily Herald regarding his position on the China situation. “Precautions must be taken till negotiations have removed the dangers. but precautions can be easily overdone” declared Mr MacDonald. “No one should welcome more than Chen precautions that mean no menace to him. My fear is that limits of wisdom are being exceeded and that Chen may think the forces are Heing gathered as a fleet. I do not think this is Sir Austen Chamberlain’s intention, but programmes of action have an unfortunate habit of setting intentions side. Let British Labor keep in touch with Chen as well as their own Government, and put up the strongest plea they can for both sides to negotiate for the suppressing of force. I hope the Government will issue as soon as expedient instructions to the secretary, Mr O’Malley.”—A. and N.Z.C.A.

RESERVISTS TO PROCEED TO CHINA MEASURES MERELY PRECAUTIONARY (United Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received Jan. 23. 5.5 p.m.; * LONDON, oan. 22. A War Office communique slates that four battalions have lieen ordered to proceed to China, including certain categories of reservists. A semi-official explanation says that over-much importance must not be attached to the calling up of reservists, who. are only those recently discharged. There is 'no intention m calling up reserves generally by Royal ’ proclamation. It is reiterated that the situation in China shows no change and therefore the decision was not taken because of alarming news received, hut it would be futile to await bloodshed lief ore taking preeau - tions. Such measures are merely precautionary. “We cannot _ too strongly emphasise that the British. Government has no warlike intentions.” Negotiations may lie slow hut they always are with the Chinese.—A. and N.Z.C.A. SENSATIONALISM DEPRECATED NO MODIFICATION OF CONCILIATORY ATTITUDE (Received Jan. 23. 5.5 p.m.") LONDON, Jan. 22. After a Cabinet meeting, the Government issued a statement reiterating that the naval and military dispositions in connection with China are precautionary. Sensationalism announcements in this connection should lie deprecated and disregarded. The Government’s sole object ■*s to fulfil the elementary duty of protecting British lives. There is no modification of the conciliatory attitude towards the legitimate aspirations of Chinese nationalism laid down in the memorandum of Decem- '!• 25 last. On the contrary, conversations are progressing at Hankow and Peking, which, if successful, will largely realise the concessions ' which the Government is willing to make for the purpose of placing Anglo-Ohinese relations on an equitable and mutually profitable basis, leading to a friendly settlement. Mr Baldwin delayed his departure to Chequers in order that he might preside at the Cabinet meeting.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

BRITAIN’S FIRM STAND AT . SHANGHAI OPPOSITION LEADERS AGREE WITH GOVERNMENT (United Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received Jan. 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 22. The significance of the interviews of Messrs Lloyd George, and MacDonald with Sir A. Chamberlain was that Britain’s' decision to make a final stand at Shanghai with what ever military and naval forces are needed in defence of British interests was fully explained, and it is understood that both Mr Lloyd George and Mr MaeDona’d assented thereto.* —A. and N.Z.C.A,

TGKIO PRESS REPORT BRITISH REDDEST FOR ASSISTANCE DECLINED (Received Jan. 23 5.5 p.m.» TOKTO, Jan. 22. The newspapers assert that Britivn has a.skod Japan to assist in the effort to restore her lost position on the Yangtsekiang, but Japan courteously declined, pointing out that the delicacy of the situation demands that Japan should refrain from the use of naval and military demonstrations indicating force. —A. and N.Z. C.A.

BRITISH INDIA STEAMER TO SYDNEY REPLACED COMMANDEERED BY INDIAN GOVERNMENT (Received Jan. 23. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY Jan. 23. An echo of the Chinese trouble is to be found in advices received from Calcutta that the British India steamer, which usually runs to Australia, has been commandeered by the Indian Government to send to China and a smaller steamer replaces her on the Australian run.

RIOTING IN SHANGHAI MOB DISPERSED BY FIRING IN AIR ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE POLICE STATION (Received Jan. 23, 5.5- p.m.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 22. In connection with the tramway strike, workers took. possession of several trams and entered the British settlement and created disturbances. Simultaneously, an attempt was made to capture 'the Central Police Station. Riot squads were called out and after a fierce fight and fiiiig shots in the air, the police dispersed the uoters. Several leaders were arrested Omnibus attendants io-day joined the strike.. The police have been m ibillsed in anticipation of further trouble.—A. and N.Z.C.A. WARSHIPS EN ROUTE TO CHINA RE-FUELLING AT PORT SAID (Received Jan. 23, 5.5 p.m.) • PORT SAID, Jan. 21. The warships Frobisher, Danae and Dragon, have arrived here and are re-fuelling. They are proceeding to China immediately.—A. and N.Z. C.A.

MORE REGIMENTS UNDER ORDERS ALL LEAVE STOPPED (Received Jan. 23 515 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 22. The Cameron Highlanders and the First Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment have been ordered io hold themselves in readiness to proceed to China. All leave has been stopped.— A. and'N.Z.C.A.

INDIAN GOVERNMENT CHARTERS LINERS TROOPS WILL PROBABLY LEAVE IN FEW DAYS (Received Jhn. 23, 11' p.m.) DELHI, .Jan. 22. The Indian Government lias chartered two A pear Line steamers to convey troops to China. It is understood the 20th Infantry Brigade from Jhansi consisting or British artillery and infantry and Indian troops are to embark in a few days at Calcutta.—A. and N.Z.C.A.