The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-08
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Powers Confer on Policy in
China While Their Ma
tionals Are Fleeing.
BY EDWARD W. PICARD.

BY EDWARD w. PICkARO.
VXIHAT to do in, or to, China was
wv the serious problem discussed
last week by the governments of the
United States, Great Britain and ia
pan in an exchange of notes. The sit
uation in Shanghai and along the
Yangtse river, though no less danger
GUS than in the previous week, was not
SO replete with incidents of violence.
Evacuation of Americans, British and
Japanese from Hankow and towns be-
yond was carried on rapidly, and in
some instances the escaping foreign
erS were stoned and otherwise at
tackled by Chinese. Near Marking a
steamer carrying refugees was fired
on by Chinese troops and the Ameri-
can destroyer Paul Jones replied Wig
orously with machine guns and two
Founders. The United States is clos
ing all its consulates in Szechwan and
Human provinces and its gunboats will
be withdrawn from the upper Yangtse
as soon as the evacuation of Ameri-
cans is completed. Most of the lat
ter are missionaries, and few of
them have refused to leave their
posts. At the request of Rear Ad-
miral Williams, commander Of the
Asiatic fleet. $500 American marines
were started on the way to China.
The force includes an artillery detach-
ment and an aviation unit. The ar
rival Of these marines at Shanghai
will bring the American landing forces
there up to 4,750 men, and the au-
thorities at Washington said the army
forces probably would not be sent at
this time for fear that such a move
might be interpreted as meaning that
the United States intended to occupy
Chinese territory. The marines for
the new expedition were taken from
Eastern stations and were called the
Sixth regiment after the unit that
won fame in the World war.
1t was said in London that the atti-
tude of America and Japan would de-
eide the question whether the powers
should withdraw entirely from China
and let the factions fight it out or
should hold on to their concessions by
force. The British government is rep
resented as willing to adopt either
course, but will not undertake alone
to maintain the latter policy. Japan's
cabinet decided to cooperate with
America and Great Britain, and pos
sibly France, in investigation of the
Marking outrage, and probably will
work with them in the defense of
lives and property; but both Washing
ton and Toxic indicate that they are
averse to anything like active inter-
vention in the Chinese civil war. Pres
ident Coolidge, furthermore, said the
United States would not join the Brit
ish in punitive measures because Of
the Marking incident. This was ap-
proved by the conservative members
of the Nationalist government, but it
was reported in Shanghai that the
American civil officials there were
greatly displeased by Mr.. Coolidge's
policy. one of them declaring: "Un-
less the powers take action now we
are lost. I believe emphatically that
a determined show Of force now would
put the Chinese conservatives in
power"
DIR. G. c. WI, one of the conserva-
tives, said coercive measures tending
to intervention in the Chinese situa-
ton would have the effect of throw
Ing all China to the radicals and into
the arms Of soviet Russia, which is
awaiting an opportunity to communize
all Asia. American naval and ma
rine officers there also seem against
any policy of Intervention.
Sir Austen Chamberlain, British
foreign secretary, minated to parlia-
ment that the British government
would not let the Marking attack go
unpublished unless the Cantonese
made full apology and paid complete
indemnity. 1t was said the punish
ment might take the form of block
ade of the Cantonese along the
Yangtse above Shanghai. AS was ex-
pected, the radicals of the Kuomin-
tang have sought to represent the
Marking affair as an outrage against