Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, the Labour ex-Premier, in an ide in! the Labour organ, "Forward," on the recent events at Hankow, say'
"One has nothing but the deepest gratitude and highest admiration for the men who controlled themselves—diplomatists and marines alike, Nothing could justify our authorities if they simply walked away from ithe Settlements, which past Chinese Governments have allowed us to Jeontrol and where our people have taken up their abode under the security they believed the Treaties gave them, "We must have an agreement and during its negotiation ordinary precautions for safety must be taken, I think the past should be liquidated because it fs the past, but it is good neither for China' nor for us that liquidation is done by riotous crowds: if it is, conflict i inevitable as to-morrow's sunrise Jand we are not to be to blame. In any event it is eleer that the Canton Government is responsible for the crowd that packed itself on the barriers of the British Concession at Hankow. If a Government uses a crowd like the Hankow ~The. Fooling in London crowd for its es it must] to th London, Jan. 14.
Feeling in London as regards the position in China generally is that all steps must be taken in consultation with other Treaty Powers to prevent in Shanghai a repetition there of the events in Hankow, which have clearly not benefited the Cantones It is pointed out that both naval and military commanders on the spot have instructions and there certainly has been consultation among the Powers on the subject of Shanghai Competent quarters in London have duly considered views on the present situation as expressed by British communities in China but! txt importance of the Cabinet's recent riveting concerning China should not be over-emphasized, Reports that the Cabinet "reached a decision" regarding the defence of Shanghai can be discounted, Nevertheless, the international authorities eonecrned will do that utmost to defend the foreign settlements at Shanghai if they are. Unrentened with mob violence.
It is emphasized that Britain, while she docs not intend in any way to interfere in internal Chinese politics, will use every means in her power to protret the lives and property of British nationals, consequences; if the crowd has go?! the upper-hand despite the Govern-efforts, it is the Government! that must shoulder the responsibility.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.