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RISIS IN CHINA. RESIGNS.23
DR. SUN & CARTON CUSTOMS.
FROM OUR DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT. Adding to Router's telegram from | Fekin of yesterday's date, the Chinese Cabinet resigned on Thursday, owing to approtest by Parliament against an alleged agreement by the Government to pay the French portion o the Boxer indemnify in gold franos. The Provident,
it is added, refused to receive the resignation of the Cabinet, and instructed it to oprry on
In connection with this report the Cabinet has never had a Premier-it should be noted that the Finance Minister Mr. Wang, only boesme a member a few weeks ago, with the avowed purpose of concluding an amicable agreement with the French on the disputed point
whether France's share of the Boxer indemnity should be paid in gold or in paper franes. Mr. Wang, in the nst, has been as ciated with the Franco- Chinese negotiations
relating to the Banque Industrielle de Chine.
Some years ago the Chinese Government endeavoured to compromise with the French demand for gold instead of paper payments, by offering to fulfil its obligations in silver.
APPEAL TO MR. R. MACDONALD.
HONGKONG, Friday.
Eugene Chen, Suz 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's The case regarding the Customs surplus. general opinion here does not favour any action calculated to disturb the economic rela tions between
een Hong nong and Canton. Dr. Sun Yat-sen las 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, be says, is threatening his 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 Customa 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 Conton authorities and the Diplomatio and Consular officials, and embodies extracts from the Pekin diplomatic officials' reply (nabled on Dec. 18) Sun Yat-sen asserts that foreign Powers are unjustified in assembling, as they are now doing. their ships of war in Canton harbour in order nominally to protect a dis patable 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 reveane 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
eed to appoint bew 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 Customs surplus in order to "enve the Chinese nation." Reuter.
POWERS DIFFICULTIES.
FROM OUR DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT. Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen's new ultimatum to the representatives of the Powers at Canton places the Powers in a difficult position. In all the resent controversies between the Towers and China nothing has hoon more remarkable than Japan's reluctance to take any stop could offend Chinese susceptibilities.
.nt
which
It may be added that Washington vies with Tokio in point of diffidence, but American concern about any encroachment on Chinose sovereignty has always been a cardion! feature United States policy. These facts exp
*xplain how, when the present friction with Sun at Canton first arose, the local American and Japanese representatives, while thoroughly dorsing the demand of their British and colleagues that the local Customs should not be seized, yet felt it incumbent to refer to their respective Governments as tr whether they should associate themselves with the strong measures of coercion threatened by the British and French admirals in the ovent
coup સં. main by Sna.
of a
Tho surprisingly mild and evasive roply by the diplomatie body at Pokin to Sun's request undoubtedly redected the same varied pre-occupations on the part of the re- spective Powers. Such an atmosphere is hardly conducive to a swift and united lino of policy.
AT DOCTORS' DIAP DR.
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