Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-29
u. S. MOVES SHIPS
NEARER CHINA FOR
ANY EvENTUAL|T|ES
Three Cruisers TO Proceed to
j. Honolulu, Navy Depart
ment Announces.
KELLOGG is HOPEFUL
OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
But Has No Direct Word Of Fac
tions Uniting-British Offer
Liberal Terms.

United States naval forces prepared
today to move closer to the theater OF
Chinese civil war, in preparedness Tor
any eventualities.
Secretary of the Navy Wilbur to-
day said that three cruisers had been
: ordered to proceed to Honolulu, which
will put them about IL days closer TO
the Chinese war zone.
These ships are the flagship Rich
mond, which is leaving Guantanamo;
the Marblehead which has been or
6ered from Nicaragua, where she will
be relieved by the cruiser Milwaukee,
and the Cincinnati, which has just
arrived at Balboa, Canal Zone.
Rear Admiral J. r. Y. Blakely, who
was under orders to command this
cruiser squadron, has been instructed
10 proceed at once to Honolulu and
Assume command there.
Have No Marines Aboard.
The ships have no Marines aboard.
nor were their compliments Increased
before being ordered to Hawaii.
1t was said at the Navy Department
that there was a desire to avoid MAX
ing it appear that any threat was
intended by the movement of the ships
al this time, particularly in view, of
the. fact that diplomatic negotiations
now are under way. At the same
time it is the desire of the Navy to
be prepared for any eventualities. and
to have it's forces as close at hand as
possible without actually appearing In
the war zone.
Secretary Kellogg considers pros
poets for new treaty conferences with
qualified Chinese representatives "rea-
sonably hopeful" although he has not
vet received any direct indications that
the two major political factions in
China are approaching an agreement
10 appoint a joint delegation for that
purpose.
information Not Disclosed.
1t was not disclosed at the State
Department on what cOnfaential ~il-4
formation the Secretary based his
hopes of an adjustment between the
two factions. The progress of the
civil war now waging in China, it was
said, might have much to do with
determining the question.
The Secretary declied to comment
on the statement issued last night by
Or. Alfred SEE, the Chinese minis
ter in Washington, asking immediate
steps to abrogate existing unequal
treaties. DIR. SEE, it was said, still is
the accredited Chinese minister OF the
Picking government.
If he has any authority to speak
for the Cantonese regime the state
Department is not aware Of 1t.
Mr.. kellogg also refused to say any
thing about the Porter resolution.
Coincident with a reaffirmation by
President Coolidge yesterday OF Secre-
.fary Kellogg's offer to negotiate, IN
concert or singly, new equalization
treaties with China, Great Britain no.
fifled both the Peking and Cantonese
Nationalist governments that she was
ready 10 grant a ma iority of the rights
for which the Chinese have been con-
tending.
Note to Both Factions.
Although the British plan was not
made uublic at the time it was pre-
eented to Marshal Chang Tso-lin and
fha peking northern government and
fo Eugene Chen, foreign minister of
sSha Cantonese regime at Hankow, 1t
is understood in Peking that it pro-
posed virtual abandonment of the
british concessions at Hankow and
Itcnfgl0, Settiflk up ia tLlclA pioNC
international settlements, in whose
administration the Chinese would be
given large representation.
The territories, Ii is said. would be
similar in some respects to the old
German concessions in China,
although safeguards would be pro-
vfCed for their efficient administration
Through foreign representation in the
municipal councils.
The concession problem of the Brit
ish IS one with which the United
States is not confronted, since this
country has no such grants in China.
Many Americans reside in the Chinese
International settlements, however,
and President Coolidge intends to
keep American naval forces in Far
Eastern waters for their protection.
He does not believe the 1000 Amer
leans in Shanghai should be asked
to abandon their property and bust
ness until all danger was passed. A
suggestion that the Americans evacu.
ate the city has been made by Chair
man Borah of the foreign relations
committee.