Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-20
Z THE CHINESE CONSORTIUM

Foreign aggression in China has always masquerad-
ed under the polite of spheres of influence While
we commonly think Japan as offender in this
regard the other great powers-with the notable excep
ton of the United hesitated mark
for themselves without Chinese consent huge slices
of Chinese territory within which their influence regned
supreme
In fact, Japan has been less offender if area of
occupation is be the standard of judgment than
of the European The latest figures show that
Japan including the Shantung concessions recently
by the conference has vastly less Chinese
territory for her sphere of influence than either Eng
land or Russia The figures follows
England ..... L. 1900 square miles 27.S per cent
Russia ......1 821 900 square miles 42.3 per cent
France ....... 146,7OO square miles "a per cent
Germany ..... $4,000 square miles 1.3 per cent
Japan ........ 10000 square miles 49 per cent
Japan has Germanys Shangtung concession Civ
ing per against Engand's q and Russas
AZ per The total of Chinese territory under for
egn influence 10 per Within these spheres
China has practically CONTROL she reg
the tariffs she cannot forbid the sale of opium
and she cannot negotiate loans without permission
story told in recent delightful book about China-"Pe
king Dust by Ellen La1ottetels of American sent
offer China money to build much-needed railroad He
the proper officials who showed him huge
map of China done in different colors. The American
pointed the red of the I'VE could begin the
road here" he said THAT impossible said the lead
ing Chinese official that belongs to England" well
here" said the American THAT Russia said the
Chinaman shaking his head. The American tried other
spots map with similar results till finally he cried
out in desperation" Well where earth is China
The announcement of the new Chinese consorum
Chat is the pooling of the American British
Japanese banking groups joint deve-
opment of China and extending of financial assistance to
the Chinese government is of interest 1t marks
for the first time in history the willingness of Japan to
allow western powers to participate in Chinese affairs
Furthermore the financing of important Chinese indus
trial and commercial projects such the building of
railroads. will henceforth joint single Hitherto
the powers claiming the individual concessions in
sisted on financing such projects with their money,
often to the serious detriment of bankrupt Chinese
government Railroads extending several concessions
by the different in the varying
spheres of influence"
The participation of America is good augury, since
we are the only foreigners whose record is above
proach in China membership in the consortium marks
departure in foreign policy While Bryan secre
ary government withdrew its support to the
American banking which was organized to give fl
nancial aid China This part of what was
caled>he Power group with interests in China From
the new alliance of the big Four for financial aid to
that group Russia and Germany withdrawn and
China should mark more hopeful in the development
of that much exploited country.