The New York herald., 1921-11-19
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10. 1921.
France Scores Handsomely in
the Conference.

III me hSeplA-.5 VIII Tue SplIAI VI
Che American proposal, France now
comes IL rward with suggestion on
the Far Eastern problem that is
highly worthy of that great nation,
M. SARRAUT. the French Colonial
Minister, said in the conference on
Thursday that France will surrender
Kwang Chow to China if Great Brit
ain will surrender Wei Hei Wei and
il Japan will surrender Shantung
and the Port Arthur peninsula to
China.
q What France offers to retuIn to
China, cancelling a lease which has
seventy-six years to run, is not a
large territory, scarcely 200 square
miles. The population Is about 2oO,-
900. But it was all that France took
in China Wien Germany seized kiao
Chow, Great Britain Wei Hei Wei
and Russia Port Arthur; and the
terms obtained by the Europeans
were practically the same in all
cases. Now, OF course, Japan has
the concessions obtained by Russia
and Germany.
Evidently France believes that by
wiping clean the slate of the bargain
ing that took place after the Boxer
WARMTH the European victors will
ing to rent choice Chinese territory
at their own prices-some interne'
tional jealousy might be dissipated,
In the Far East field France makes
an offer similar to that of Mr..
HUGHES: Eve will drop something if
the other fellows will" This is good
diplomacy. 1t creates friendly
spirit If nothing more.
Kwang Chow, which has been q
free port since 1902, lies in the south
Of China. II gives the French actual
control of the great island Of Hainan
from which 1t is separated only by q
strait. With France in possession OF
kwang Chow and Hainan, French
Indo-China, which lies to the west
across the Gulf of Tonkin, is made
strategically safe.
Two French steamship lines call
lat Kwang Chow and it is one of the
most important coaling stations in
the French colonies or large coal
beds are close at hand. So it is GER
tain that France, in offering to give
up this station, is not merely striking
magnanimous pose, secretly glad
to rid herself of a nuisance. She
would never willingly let another
Power obtain control of port sc
near her own great possessions in
Indo-China. She very likely believes
that by acting generously with China
and setting good example to other
Powers she will receive fair treat
ment from the grateful Chinese. And
France has right TO believe this
China does not forget her friends.
d" M. SARRAUT remarks that French
Indo-China, with its 25,O00.000 inhab
itants, is not to be involved. Thi:
is obvious; the French acquisition Of
that region is another and Inucl
older story. No dispute lies there
except perhaps over the eastern boun
Diary, and this the French are willing
TO discuss.
France" says NJ. SARRAUT OF the
Chinese problem, lis for open deal
ings." Open dealings and the oper
door will do much to restore China's
confidence in the outer world. II
would be a good thing for white mer
and yellow men If China and hel
friends were convinced that she was
regarded as something more thar
good picking. France has pointed
one way to signify this. And. in re
sponse to the challenge, Great Brit
ain could well afford to turn bacl
Wei Hei Wei to its old landlord.
II is from Japan that the final an
swer to this generous French offei
must com a