New-York tribune., 1919-02-03
China Fights
For Life in
Peace Parley
Continued from page l

l.
Wellington Koo, who arc now in Paris.
IN the following year DR.. Koo was
appointed Chinese Minister to Wash
ington.
Foreign advisers of the Chinese gov
eminent, as well as several Chinese
ofilclals, saw Immediately that it would
be essential Tor China to have a place
al the European peace conference, but
Tor two years Japan was fable to pre-
vent the feeble Chinese Administration
from declaring war against Germany
Not until American broke relations
with Berlin and President Wilson
summoned an neutrals to take similar
action. could the Chinese muster suff
clent courage to defy Japanese wishes
and declare war.
Secret Agreement Reached
The next spectacular step in the de-
Velopment was the secret agreement
reached between China and Japan in
January, 1918, enabling the Japanese to
send across Manchuria Province a num-
per OF troops who took over CON
siderable section Of the Russian trans
SIBERIAN Railroad and advanced as far
as lrkutsk on Lake Baika This secret
ton in which France and Great Britain
desired America to participate. France
and Great Britain argued with Presi-
dent Wilson over the question for
period of nine months
1t will be remembered that late in
the summer of 1913 Mr. Wilson de-
vlsed his own plan and agreed with
the Japanese to send an equal number
OF American and Japanese troops to
Nladivostok. About 10000 men of each
nation, supplemented by small CON
tingents from Great Britain and
France, landed at the terminus of the
Siberian railway, namely, Vladivostok,
but the route which was opened by the
agreement with China from Dalnv and
Fort Arthur, up through Manchuria.
enabled the Japanese to send much
greater independent forces across this
chinese province into Siberia to a dis
tance of four days train travel inland
from Nladivostok
With this bare outline of the Far
Eastern situation for the past four
years, supplemented by a knowledge Of
the fact that Japanese troops in
greater number than European troops
are Lodged in the so-called treaty ports
III China, it will be seen that the fore
most and almost only purpose of the
Chinese delegation here is to rid their
country of what they consider a grow
ing menace to their integrity. The
presence of American, British, French
and Italian troops in Pekin. and the
presence of American and British gun
boats Tor the purpose of protecting
trade and missionaries far up the
Yangtse River five days journey from
Shanghai, arc not in the eyes of the
Chinese delegation the serious menace
ttat the occupation of Manchuria,
klao- chau and the location Of Japanese
troops in strategic railway centres in
the heart of China, like Tsi-nan-Fu
and Hankow, are to them.
Disagrees on Representation
The fight for representation among
the opposing Far Eastern delegates to
the peace conference has been interest
ing to watch. japanese government
officials announced two months ago
that China and Japan had reached an
agrecment for single representation
here. This the Japanese delegation
on arrival emphatically denied. but
China, being feeble country, whose
was unable to obtain recognition
similar TO that accorded the single
great power of the Far East Japan
not only obtained five seats in the full
conference. but was also accepted as
a full preventative in the high inner
committee, composed of two delegates
from each of the five great powers,
while China obtained but two seats
in the plenary conference. although
five Chinese delegates had been sent
hither.
The Chinese, being a very proud
race hoped to- have representation at
the conference in proportion to the
size of their country, but had to be
content with the representation ac~
corded the minor states. But the
small states. as Clcmenccau pointed
out at. the plenary sitting last Satur-
day. have full right to be heard BY the
high committee of the five great
powers and in the plenary sessions
which are open to newspaper men,
thereby enabling the small states to
world of public opinion. And it is the
intention of the Chinese, as already
seen. to make full use of this oppor-
tunity.
On the other hand, the japanese are
standing largely on the strength of
their position. which is conceded to be
almost impregNable.
It is interesting to observe in the
Chinese delegation here the influence
mat foreigners nave mad upon the
Chinese government in recent years
Less than twenty Years ago a foreign
trained student was at a disadvantage.
China endcavored in 1900
TO get rid Of all foreigners. and slew
Il great many of its own people who
had been educated by American,
English and other missionaries. But
to-day the foreign trained man enjoys
great prestige.
Three American Trained
All five of the Chinese delegates
here are men of foreign training. and
Enr,,nnrC NC nhnp.