New-York tribune., 1920-04-19
u. S., Britain and France
Must Furnish Republic
Protection or Japanese
Will, Writer Warns
Trusteeship Over
Finances Needed
With Practically No Gov
ernment, Nipponese Are
Fast Gaining Control
By Nathaniel PETER


Special Correspondent Of The Tribune
PEKING, China, March 1O.-The
hopelessness that has paralyzed this
capital since the last year of the
European war remains without sign
of relief, either from within China
itself or from the Western powers.
The confident expectation that peace
in Europe would bring a re-ordering
in the Far East, at least a restate-
ment of the positions of Europe, ia
pan and America, has proved abor-
tive. The powers are still fumbling
in opportunism, as they have since
the overthrow of the Manchus in
1911 changed China's world status.
Meanwhile, there is drift further
and further into disintegration.
This much can be said without quail
fcation: from within China itself there
is no hope, either at present or in the
immediate future, for any basic i'm
provement, for anything that will re-
establish its stability and provide
foundation for reconstruction. The
utter political bankruptcy of this coun-
try is almost beyond description.
Government there is almost none
What there is, is worse than none.
There is President who sits in his
palace OIL the edge Of the Lotus Lake,
IN the once Forbidden City, making
IN al oCsn
manner for consolation. Little else is
given him to do; little else is in his
lower to do. There is a Parliament,
which practically never meets. lit
orally never considers anything and
draws, in addition to its salary, a sub
sidy of several hundred dollars
month a member from the Militarist
party known as the >Anfu Club. The
subsidy is drawn from the government
treasury by the Militarist party by
virtue of the Militarist party's power
TO dictate to the treasury or any other
branch Of the government There is
new Premier every few weeks, each
remaining so long as he does nothing
to offend the Military party. There is
q Cabinet whose posts are now filled
and now untitled, and whether filled or
untitled is immaterial, for the activi-
tie. Of their occupants are limited to
doing the militarists' bidding.
Government Vested in Army Chieftains
Such government as there is is vest
ed in the army chieftains scattered
about the country as provincial gov
srnors, small satraps subject to no law
or control but their own will, financial
interests and political affiliations. The
majority Of these are banded in the
Anfu Club, the leader and dominant
personality of which is General Hsu
Shu-cheng, he who is known as "Little
Hsu." military man of arrogant
temper, -indomitable will, unlimited
Little Hsu" comes very close TO being
the dictator Of China, his power being
second only to that welded by Yuan
Shlh-kai in the years before his death
This is the real governing body of
China. II dictates the making and un-
making of cabinets, it raises and dis
poses armies. i. lays down foreign
policies, it contracts loans by its own
authority, pledging as security China's
revenues, railways, mines and other
nafural resources. 1t acknowledges no
law. no authority, no check but its own
ambitions and its obligations to
!apan-it may be more accurate
to say to the Japanese military
bureaucracy. This is the orgari
zation through which Japan has made
iH deep penetrations into China in the
last three years. 1t was with it's men,
eers in Official position that Japan con-
'!acted the series of loans by which it1
obtained mortgage on 30 much Of the
s'salth Of North China. 1t was with
ias money obtained thereby that the
armies that gave it the control of the
government, And since that control Is
complete and the control Of the
anu Club by japan in turn is SO com
2ete the dominance Of Japan in
fsxing also is wellnigh complete.
Troops Dominated by Japanese
~ is no exaKgeration 70 say dom
Nance. There il not an important di-
hos literally sprinkled with Japanese
sHscsrs. There in no meeting of the
s'sneral STAFF Of the Chinese army that
= not attended by the japanese Mill
nFy Attache In Peking. Colonel Banzai.
~ undeYstood that at many Of these
aM,eesinzs he presides. And when
little Hsu" went 70 Outer Mongolia q
~ ~ weeks ago TO compel the cancella-
s.on 81 Outer MongoIia's autonomy in
.ss9r Of China, thus putting that vast
s.a r1ch territory. into the power and
"tSH"SAi VI VIE AH!u LluD, Ee
sas accompanied by at least one Japa-
hsse office.
III arFeiitically, there IL only one activity |
ppnYsnt'y and effectively prosecuted in
ssx'nE~-corruption. The open and un-
sgssaed lnotiDz Of the public funds Of
Saaa is called the Republic of China
- - ceased 10 seandaIize. II has be- |
svMs 10 normal az 10 be taken for
ssn*d. ny comparison the worst of |
fss NAnchn days were characterized by |
sag,gssration. Men, who few years a9o |
~ minor posts, lived in small houses |
W went 10 their sfices in donkey
now have imposing residences |
| S"zen OF more e0urtyards, sxtsn- |