Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-18
NEW ERA MARKED
|NFAREAST AFFAIRS
BY CONSORT|UM
China's Future Declared As.
sured-victory for Ameri-
can Diplomacy.
BY JUNrUs b. WOOD.

| can Diplomacy.
BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.
BY Cable to The Star and Chicago
Daily News. Copyright, 1920.
TOXIC. May 1s.-When Japan for
mally signed the agreement to enter
the Chinese consortium without res
ervations. it was the crowning sue
cess Of three months Of persistent ne
gotiations by Thomas w. Lamont.
representing the American banking
group. 1t marked q new era In Amer
| lean diplomatic as we'll as financial
participation in far eastern affairs.
While history probably never will tell
governments during these long and
trying efforts to harmonic the d.
vergent views of Japan and China,
enough Is known Of the inside work
ings to make a dramatic story.
| Backed by L. 8. Government.
| Though unhesitatingly backed in
every step of the deliberations by the
American government and American
financial interests. Mr.. Lamont faced
| obstacles of every nature, varying
| intrenched autocrats on one side and
the noisy threats of personal violence
from the more excitable patriots on
the other. which in Peking Chinese
students declared their intention to
stone the hotel in which the Lamont
party was staying. a report having
| been circulated that the mission came
to China for the purpose of inducing
the acceptance Of a loan from japan.
! Invite them to come and have tea
and talk 1t over hrst." said Mr.. La
| mont.
Twenty hoys and ton rirls renre.
| senting the students. came. each thor
oughly posted on certain features OF
the consortium. They bombarded Mr..
Lamont with questions for two hours.
and departed satisfied with his an
swers and convinced that the plan
would be beneficial to their republic.
A bouquet of flowers was sent instead
OF the threatened stoning.
signs without Reservations.
Plain American dogeedness. with
sound logic, backed by the strength
of American national as we'll as fnan-
cial power, brought the surprising
announcement that the consortium
was signed at a moment when many
feared that the mission was doomed
to failure. That Japan signed without
reservations was an even greater sur
prise.
The successful outcome here means
more than an individual triumph.
n
generally hail the consortium as the
brightest augury in recent years for
China's future. 1t promises that
China will no longer be prey to the
ambitions Of nations on the outside
and corrupt and incompetent poll
ticians on the inside. What 10 par
Great Britain and France asserted
early to the plan, the consortium
originated in America.
Reasons for Japan's Entry.
The main reasons for Japan.s en-
trance into the consoftium without
reservations were the following:
/. sincere desire to stabilize
China by putting the national finances
and friendly China. Japan. through
her geographical proximity. has q
commercial advantage over any other
.. A laudable ambition to retain
her place among the worlds great
powers.
3. The necessity of continuing on
cordial terms with the same powers.
especially America. in order to float
needed loans for her own national
improvements.
The most important feature Of the
oonsortium 10 the unalterable de-
cision that the millions OF money
are TO be used for China's internal
improvements. chiefly railroad. for
currency reform and for the gen
eral development Of the country. The
nations must. approve expenditures
from the loan. 1t will not be used
for the purchase Of Anticipated rthes.
discarded machinery or useless ex-
travaKances, like some OF the previ-
Gus loans
Loan VIII BE stnbiiizer.
Before sailing on the Korea Maru
for San Francisco. where the vessel Is
due May 80, Mr.. Lamont was asked
! for an interview. and in response he
| said. informally:
Naturally l am very glad that my
| long trip here has not been In vain.
The thing that pleases me most Is the
/ testimony that comes unanimously
from my countrymen living in the far
east that the consortium which has
been formed will. II the operations
are conducted generously and wisely,
prove to be a real factor in helping to
stabilize political as well IS financial
conditions in China and maintaining
peace in the far east"
The influence Of the consortium ne.
gotiations 10 already noticeable In
signidcant moves BY China and Japan
There 10 every indication Of an early
and important change in the Pekine
cabinet through admitting seats ia
that body to certain southern leaders
That course was consistently urged
tium as being q necessary preliminary
to the effective reconciliation Of the
northern ana southern factions Ia
China. simultaneously comes an IN.
nouncemsnt by Gen. Of In Vladtvostoh
Indicating that Japan 10 anxious te
the earliest moment after the safety
Of the JaUaneaA ciyfliann In aaAnred