Evening star., 1927-02-02
GRAVE" REPORTS
FROM CHINA CAUSE
ANXIETY IN BRITAIN
Cabinet Called to Consider
Situation After Cantonese
Discontinue Negotiations.
SHANGHAI RAISES BAR
TO LANDING OF TROOPS
Force From England May Be Part
ly Diverted-U. S. Pushes De-
fense Preparations.

~ the Associated fress.
LONDON, February 2.--The British
cabinet was called into session early
this afternoon to consider what the
newspapers term grave reports
from China. The foreign Office in a
published statement insists that the
negotiations with the Cantonese al
Hankow have not broken down, but
admits that Foreign Minister Chens
action in raising the question of the
dispatch of British military forces to
Shanghai has ruined the prospects OF
early signature of the draft agree
ment negotiated by Chen and the
British charge d'affaires, Owen
O'Nalley.
This agreement would provide for
settlement of the recent incidents at
Hankow and Kiukiang, in which the
British concessions were stormed by
anti-foreign mobs.
From information available" the
foreign office statement said, lit APP
pears that during the negotiations re-
garding the future status of the
British concessions in Hankow and
Kiulxiang, Chen raised the question
of the dispatch of British troops to
China.
New Turn in Parleys.
Consequently, the negotiations have
taken a new turn and the prospects
of an early signing of the draft agree
ment providing for an amicable set
tlement of the Hankow and Kiukiang
incidents must be postponed.
Commenting on the rupture, today's
Times expresses the opinion that the
break Is due to the influence OF
Michael Borodin of Russia, acting
in consultation with bolshevist con-
spirators, who are exploiting the
Chinese national movement for their
own purpose.
The Daily Mail calls for immediate
severance of British diplomatic re-
lations with Russia.
Viscount Grey, who was British
foreign secretary when Great Britain
declared war on Germany IN 1914,
believes that the Chsnese ma tionallst
policy is being largely Influenced BY
the bolsheviks, and for this reason
the Chinese difficulty should not be
submitted to the League or Nations.
AS the bolsheviks were ayowediy
hostile to the league. he thinks. the
Chinese nationals and their soviet ad-
visers would regard reference of the
question to the league as q hostile
gesture and a challenge. lie gave
his views in a speech congratulating
the present foreign secretary. SIT
Austen Chamberlain. on the manner
in which be was handling the problem.
Troops SAN foe China.
Bound for China. with Maj. Gen.
John Duncan, who will command the
land forces in the Far East, aboard.
the Megantic departed from Malta
Yesterday after embarking two Dattal-
ions. with auxilaries, medical forces
and nurses.
Other transports are steamlng lot
China, which would seem 10 lnolcate
that the British government will carry
through its original plan to assemble
adequate ships and troops in the dis
turbed area of China to protect British
nationals and other foreign residents.
AS the Megantic passed through a
line of battleships glittering with
lights. the crews manned the sides.
and there was great cheering and sing
ing of Shanghai and Aud Lang
Syne.'
Before his departure, Gen. Duncan is
quoted in dispatches from Malta as
expressing the conviction that no
trouble will arise.
The dismissal of Sir Francis Aglen.
inspector general of the Chinese
maritime customs, by the Peking gov
ernment Monday. though not con-
sidered in official quarters in London
as a matter of grave Importance, is
yet embarrassing as further mani.
festation Of the antagonistic spirit OF
Peking. The British official, who was
an appointee of the PeRing govern
ment, declined to collect surtaxes, Of
fering the technical objection that he
was not entitled to collect them until
all the treaty powers had consented.