Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-17
The MancHnr-i1n
Question
1.-THE jap
anese Rule
in the South.
By
Frederic
J. Haskin.

in the South. J. Haskin.
MUKDEN-Mukden, the ancient CAPT.
tai of the Manchu kings, has been tax
ing unto itself modern airs in the four
years since 1t gave its name to the big
gest battle of military history. Mukden
being a railway center and a stopping
over place on the route of those round
the-world travellers who eject to journey
from China to Europe by mail. 1T has
provided itself with guides, a series OF
sights" and numerous curio shops
There is an "Astor House" hotel. there
are paved streets, a tram-way and tel
ephone system, while the waterworks
and electric light plant are on the way.
One sees progress on every hand, as he
will at every point in China where the
railway has touched, but an examina-
+ tion of trade and political conditions
does not result very favorably.
Politically, of course, this city with
its surrounding territory is Chinese.
The administration of affairs is in Chi
nese hands and there is a show OF de-
ference to Chinese authority. In fact
however, the japanese are in actual con-
troll By means of the ownership OF the
South Manchurian railway and the two
years of military occupation after the
end of the war, the Japanese managed
to get their hands on everything in Man
churia worth owning. They have
loosened their grip somewhat-the sever
ity of the military rule could not last
always-but they are in position to tight
en- their hold at any moment.
Although japan has evacuated Man
churia in a military sense, Japanese SOL
diers remain as railway guards, as
guards of mining concessions owned or
operated by Japanese, and as consular
guards. Southern Manchuria is covered
with Japanese consulates and consular
agencies, each having vastly more to do
with internal affairs than the name
consul" would Indicate.
Police power, administration Of posts
and telegraphs taxation and regulation
of commerce, are all inherent in the po-
litcal sovereignty of a state. Japan ex-
ercises all these powers, in whole or
in part, in southern Manchuria and at
the same time protests that it is living
up to the terms of the treaty of Ports
mouth which promised 10 restore Man
churia entirely and completely to the
exclusive administration or China" Chi
nese sovereignty in Manchuria is farce.
Japan immigration into the country,
which was very large Immediately after
the war during the military regime when
Chinese were elected from their homes
and their property was confiscated by
the intruders, has fallen off lately. The
Japanese emigrants to Korea and Man.
churia have usually come from the low
est classes of Japanese society and have
proved hard for even the Japanese au-
thorities to handle. The Japanese gov
eminent. however, usually supports its
nationals in their quarrels with the ma
tive people, no matter what the merits
of the controversy. Mukden, being
Chinese city according to all law, has
ChineGe police. Nothing could be more
natural. Long after the japanese had
evacuated the city the police we're con-
stantly resisted by Japanese brawlers.
The police used their weapons once or
twice to intimidate boisterous Japanese.
The result was that, under pressure from
the japanese Consul-General, the Chi
nese police were forbidden to carry tire
arms during the day, although the jap
anese railway guards carried rifles and
bayonets on the streets all the time!
/
The Japanese immigrants have not
prospered in Manchuria as Iney and their
government expected they would. They
may despise the Chinese as weaklings
in a military sense, and they may flout
the political and commercial rights OF
the Chinese government; but they are
forced to respect the Chinese merchants
shrewdness, the Chinese artisans skill
and the Chinese peoples faculty for pa
tient impressive resistance. The Japanese
merchants of the petty order who came
over here have been starved out by the
Of Ia { nfnaQQ dRGpifa the
advantages in freight rates ana immunity
from taxation enjoyed by the Japanese.
The Japanese artisans have proved them
selves utterly unable to compete with
the Chinese. Agriculturl has apparently
made little appeal to tie japanese immi-
grants, despite the great opportunities
here. The Japanese VINO cUme to Man
churia are possessed with the get-ricb-
quick fever and they are not willing to
bide their time and work with the pa
| thence of an Oriental to win the Orientals
meagre prize.
Railroads, mines, ports and harbors,
rivers, timber lands-these are the true
scepters of power in the modern age anu
in South Manchuria they are all controll-
ed by Japan, despite China's rightful SOW
ereignty. During the war Japanese seized
mining property, timber lands and private
store to the Chinese subjects who owned
them. All efforts to bring these affairs
to a satisfactory settlement have result
ed in failure. An example of how military
necessities and railroad administration can
| be operated in harmony is that presented
| by the coal mines in the Antung- Mukden
railway zone. These mines were seized
Il by Japan as a military Necessity, the
Chinese owners being disregarded. These
same mines are now held as a part of the
assets of the South Manchurian railway.
various reasons of a completed nature
being set forth to explain why they are
not restored to their owners. The same
thing is true Of buildings in the city
which were taken for military purposes
during the war, and which are now rent
ed for nominal sums 10 Japanese mer-
chants while the Chinese owners are I'M
able to regain possession.
The Antung- Mukden railway, the con-
troversy over which recently resulted in
another victory for Japan in its syste-
matte invasion of Chinese sovereignty, is
an example of the method used by the
Japenese in laying foundations for further