The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-24
JAPAN AND CHINA MUCH CONCERNED
OVER IDENTIFICATION OF RUSSIA;
BALANCE IN THE EAST is UPSET

linking European Russia with the
Pacific, takes a shortcut across
Manchuria, though a branch is now
open round the bend of the Amur
River, which divides Siberia from
China,
Through this Russian sphere of
Chinese territory the line is known
as the Chinese Eastern Railway, and
it is a joint Russo Chinese enter
prise. This concession, obtained in
the '90's, established the railway zone
which cuts across Manchuria to
Vladivostok, provided for Chinese
director but with the executive in
the hands of Russia, obligated the
company to keep order in its zone,
and put upon the Chinese govern
ment the taking of measures for the
protection of the line ....." Hence
the Bolshevik attempt to seize the
railroad was in direct violation of
this Russo-Chinese agreement
The Russian Legation at Picking
brought this to the attention of the
Bolshevik government, but the warn
ing was not needed. With the ap-
prevail of the Powers, the Chinese
government acted on its rights and
interviewed in the railway zone to re-
store order. Coupled to the aid
China allowed to reach the anti-Bol-
shevik forces organized in this region
by men like Prince Lvoff and others
of the overthrown Provisional gov
eminent, this brought relations be-
tween the Bolshevik and China to
crisis.
Negotiations were begun at China
between the Siberian Committee for
Bolsheviki and a Chinese delegation.
The demand was made that the
counter-revolution developing on
Chinese soil be stopped. On the 9Th
of April the meeting broke up with
the Siberian Committee returning to
Irkutsk preparing for hostilities
against China Two days later Tchit-
cherin, controlling the Soviet gov
ernment's foreign policy, warned
China that relations between the Chi
nese authorities and former Rus
sian officials" would be held inter
ference in the domestic affairs of
Russia
| In the meantime the -Alhe0were in
tervenfng locally at Vladivostok.
China was represented by a warship,
indicating her active interest. On the
18th the Bolshivik delivered an I'LL
timatum reiterating the demands of
the Soviet government.
Need Allied Unity
This the Chinese Republic has dis
regarded; in consequence, the Soviet
government has begun the attack of
Chinese stations to force compliance
with its demands.
It is imperative that China be sup
ported in the maintenance of her in
tegrity and treaty obligations. The
status Of Russia must be determined.
The Russian Soviet Republic is, by
her break from the Allies, a neutral,
or, her resistance nonentarfly shat
tered, she is underneath it all still
facility an ally; or, by her dealings
with the enemy powers, she has be-
come an enemy, Whatever be the
international position of Russia, she
is actually assaiiing our Chinese ally
in an attempt to lay hold of the
booty stolen by a. discredited regime,
thereby preventing its reversion to
the country which should possess it.
i The possibilities of the situation
are tremendous The Allies are hav-
ing their hands forced by two poll
cies being developed by two of their
own number, China and Japan, The
first springs from the threat of in
vasioni the second, from an asserted
primary over the East There is
nothing in common between the two
save a single enemy It may read
lily bring out the conflict of PURPOSES
between the Chinese Republic and
the Japanese Empire. The Mikado's
land, dominating one-half of the
Three Eastern Provinces, can re-
gard herself by treaty and ambitions
the successor to old Russia's vested
interests in Manciluria- Such an at
titude en- the part OF Japan would
make her schemes vitality affected nv
China,s defense of her sovereignty in
: this region which has seemed destin-
ed until new to be a China ire
! denta,n a lost China in Russian and
japanese hands.
An Allied concert must handle this
Far Eastern situation, and its action
must be based en- the world wide an
: piicatiun Of the purposes upon which
the Great War is being waged. IN
} mo other way can a disastrous con.
flict OF interests IN the Far East Be
: arerted-
Ru.ss VAST sss ems Gent word