19
eff
SUN YAT-SEN'S THREAT.
CANTON CUSTOMS TO BE SEIZED.
FOREIGN RESISTANCE
EXPECTED.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PEKING, DEC. 5. In spite of a warning from the Dipio- matie Body informally conveyed to Sun Yat-sen few days ago, that worthy is again threatening to seize the Customs House at Canton and to appropriate the revenues unless his claim for a share in the Customs surplus is admitted.
The foreign admirals now present at Canton are understood to be prepared to resist any interference with the Customs administration, the maintenance of which is vital to foreign commerce, and upon the regular collection of which depend the revenues devoted to the service of the foreign debt. It is therefore of the utmost importance to foreign interests that the position of the Customs should not be jeopardized.
Sun Yat-sen is now regarded by all classes in Canton as a ravening wolf, devouring the fat and blood of the people : in order to sustain his obsession that he i is destined to be the saviour of the country. He is being used by the mer cenary Yunnanese troops, who have no object but plunder, and, in his name, there has been established in Canton a system of extortion astonishing even for China. But he is being so pressed by bis military opponents that he sticks at nothing to obtain money to maintain his position. Thanks to some extent to the encourage ment given to him by the Hong-kong Government, there is a belief that he enjoys foreign support, and nothing will 37 effectually explode this notion than to find that his contemplated ection will meet with resistance.
APPEAL TO MR. R.
NALD.
HONGKONG. Friday, Eugena Chen, Sun Yat-sen's confidential | secretary, had a conference to-day with the Governor and high officials. Sir R. E. Stubbs listened to the presentation of Sun Yat-sen'L, case regarding the Customs surplus. general opinion here does not favour any The Action calculated to disturb the economic rela- tions between Hong song and Canton.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen has telegraphed to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald asking him to bring to the notice of the British people, and particularly of the workers, the grave situation brought about by the despatch of the international naval force sent to Canton to prevent his seiz ing the Maritime Customs. This force, he says, is threatening bin Government with acts of war" at the behest of the diplomatic ' body at Pekin, which has ordered this action at the instance of the British Minister."
HONG KONG, Friday (Later). The following is a brief summary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's statement regarding the Customs surplus which was presented to the Governor, Sir R. E. Stubbs, to-day.
The preamble recites the history of the Customs surplus, and gives a recapitulation of the correspondence exchanged between the Canton authorities and the Diplomatic and Consular officials, and embodies extracts from the Pekin diplomatic officials' reply (cabled on Dec. 18) Sun Yat-sen asserts that foreign Powers are unjustified in assembling, as they are now doing, their skips of war in Canton harbour in order nominally to protect a dis- putable right, but practically to assist the Pekin Government to impose its will on the Canton Government.
Sun Yat-sen's Government on Wednesday ordered the Inspector-General to retain at Canton and other places hereafter to be de- signated all Customs revenne collected within ita territory and to refund all arrears of Customs surplus since March, 1920. If the order is not obeyed the Canton Government will proceed to appoint new Customs officials' who will recognise its authority and loyally assist and co-operate in carrying on the public and routine work of the Government. The statement argues that foreign Powers are without Treaty right to interfere in such a routine act of administration.
Placards are appearing in the streets of Canton urging the people to carry on an anti- British and American boycott. Others appeal to the people to unite to secure the Custome surplus in order to "save the Chinese nation." Reuter.
POWERS' DIFFICULTIES.
FROM OUR DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT. Dr. San-Yat-Sen's new ultimatum to the representatives of the Powers at Cantou places the Powers in difficult position. In all the recent controversies between the Powera and China nothing has been more remarkable than Japan's reluctance to take any step which could offend Chinese susceptibilities.
It may be added that Washington vies with Tokio in point of diffidence, but American concern about any encroachment on Chinese sovereignty has always been a cardinal feature of United States policy. These facts explain how, when the present friction with Sun at Canton first arose, the local American and Japanese representatives, while_thoroughly endorsing the demand of their British and French colleagues that the local Customs should not be seized, yet felt it incumbent to. rafer to their respective Governments as to whether they should associate themselves with the strong measures of coercion threatened by the British and French admirals in the event of a coup de main by Sun,
The surprisingly mild and evasive reply given by the diplomatic body st Pekin to Sun's request undoubtedly reflected the same varied pre-occupations on the part of the re- spective Powers. Such an atmosphere is hardly conducive to a swift and waited line of policy.
RUSSIAN ALLIANCE. HINTED AT.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDE
HONG-KONG, Lec. I.
I had a conversation with Sun Yat-sen, yesterday at his headquarters in Canton. ile was brisk and vigorous, and younger in appearance than when last I saw him in Shanghai. He said the war situation was excellent, but money was the great need.
Canton could not continue to shoulder the whole cost of the stitutionalist fight for good government.
He had therefore decided to see the Canton Customs and instruct the Commis soner to hand over all the revenues. Commisioner refused to do an he would be If the replaced by another, 1 Peking issued short- service foreign loans, Sun continued.
contribute due proportion from
Lo
con-
br
g, but it was intolerable that Peking
He thie
be enabled to collert revenue from Kwangtung for the purpose of war. would only abstain from evenues if the diplomatists
seizure tang's portion of the Customs surplus, as was granted Kwang- in 1919-20, plus arrears since 1920, In reply to a question as to when be would take extreme step, he answered: "Probably within the next few days."
On my pointing out that there wore at present no fewer than nine British, French, American, and Japanese gunboats at Canton, Sub said he did not hope to overcone such
an array of foreign might, but adiled that he would regard it by all the Powers, and would then enter upon ard it as an honour to be defented the second phone, explicit.
but
"refused to be mora Ho with Russin. Though declaring that he was hinted at an active alliance sincerely anxious for good relations with the Powers,
ets, especially with Great Britain, be bell them responsible for the continuance of the strife in China and for affording Peking moral and financial withdrawn the war would cease. Meanwhile.
support,
Directly that he was determined to pursue any measure to gain his ends.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who had taken A prominent part in Manchu Dynasty. Was
the overthrow of the President of China in 1811, but resigned in elected Provisional favour of Yuan Shib-kai. After his break with Yuan,
in 1917, he
in Canton, abd
blish
A separate Govetedly tried
was elected President
osta-
at Canton in April the old Parliament
fortune has followed the course of the war 192.1. Since then his between North and South. The Government
nt Canton came to an end in July, 1928, when Sun Yat-sen was compelled to seek reinge in Shanghai
In the first half of this year. Yunnanese and Ewangai troops were induced to support Sun, who by May. 1923, was re- established at Canton. He was, however, for
a considerable time without authority, as the military leaders kept all real power in their own hands.
ITO INDEY
450