CHINESE TURMOIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 9, 8 December 1926, Page 9

CHINESE TURMOIL

THE UNREST IN HANKOW. HARDSHIPS FOR FOREIGNERS. EJECTED FROM THEIR HOMES. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received December 8, 11.50 a.m. PEKIN, Dec. 7. The Hankow unrest promises to increase despite the failure of the general strike. The labour unions are becoming bolder d&ly and are inflicting the greatest hardships on the foreign residents, many of whom redding outside the concessions and unprotected, have been ejected from their homes and their belongings thrown into the street and looted. The servants are encouraged by the soldiers heaping indignities on the heads of Britishers, French and Japanese. An intense undercurrent of antiforeignism prevails. A society sponsored by the military has been formed for the purpose of overthrowing the British political department. The Reds, who have hitherto been working secretly, are now openly inciting anti-foreignism and have printed instructions to the soldiers naming British and Japanese as the chief enemies of the revolutionary movements, the objects of which are the recovery of the foreign concessions and the driving out of all foreigners, which doctrine is inflaming the populace. Missionary reports from the interior declare that a strong anti-Christian spirit follows in the path of the Cantonese. Numbers of schools and churches have been closed as the result of ultimatums from students. —A. and N.Z. cable.

BOLSHEVIK ORIGIN. LORD BIRKENHEAD’S STATEMENT BRITAIN DOES NOT DESIRE WAR LONDON, Dec. 7. Lord Birkenhead, speaking at Northampton, declared that Mr Lloyd George’s statement that the elements behind the movement in Southern China were not Bolshevik in origin was untrue. “I say that,” he said, “with knowledge of all the official papers circulated by the Foreign Office. I predict that Mr Lloyd George’s speech wil be circulated in China, and it will make the task of British statesmen more difficult.” He added that it was not Britain’s purpose to engage in war with China. He could not conceive Anyone anxious for another war. The Government's \ only concern was to safeguard citizens and trade. —A. and N.Z. cable. ' J FREE HAND. NAVY IN CHINA. BRITISHERS’ POSITION. LONDON, Nov. 29. It is understood that the Hankcvf Britishers’ cry for protection is not regarded merely as a cry of “Wolf!” but that, nevertheless, their position is not critical provided adequate measures are taken to nip any trouble in the bud. The coolies live from hand to mouth and the loss of one day’s work practically means starvation, when they will be easily inflamed and therein lies the danger. Diplomatic quarters appreciate the gravity of the situation, but are confident that the China Squadron will provide all the protection necessary. It is the Foreign Office’s invariable, custom to give the fleet a free hand to ; carry out, as is deemed advisable, the , British policy in China, which is simply to protect Britishers’ lives and interests if necessary, but not to meddle in any way with Chinese politics, or even to appear to take sides with opposing internal factions.