Evening star., 1921-07-24
THE STORY THE WEEK HAS TOLD

at the Washington conference. He asserts that
the Peking government is creature Of the
militarists each Of whom is fighting for his own
hand and concerned only about lining his own
pockets, in no sense popular government or one
qualified to speak for China. On the other
hand, the Canton government claims to voice
and to be trying to give effect to the demo-
cratic aspirations of the Chinese people. 1t has
the formal adhesion of only the province OF
Kwang-Tung (which province is. however, eco
nomically the most important in China), but
probably several other provinces adhere to 1t in
spirit and are likely at any time to adhere to
it in fact. DR.. Wu's plea cannot be admitted.
The Washington conference will take judicial
notice Of the Peking government as the govern
ment Of all China, including Kwang-Tung, but
the difficulty Of finding satisfactory solutions
for Chinese questions will be ip-'- -,ensely en-
hanced by the fact that the Feking govern
ment is of very questionable character. How
to establish and perpetuate conditions in China
favorable to a happy economic. social and po-
litical evolution? Thanks to President Hard
ing the works attention Is at last to be To-
cused t:ifs its most fascinating and almost
its most important problem.
y X X X
JAPAN-Diplomatic exchanges continue
between our government and that of Japan con-
cernine what shall be the scope of the discus
sions at the Washington conference. Japanese
liberals and conservatives are debating the mat
ter vigorously. BY the Lansing-Ishii agree
ment. our government admitted interests"
equivalent to rights" IL not sovereign. Japan
is at least champion and protector of the far
east they say; such entitled to assert
far eastern Monroe doctrine. They would have
Japan hold fast to any concessions. spheres Of
influence. etc. she may have acquired and re-
fuse to discuss them with other powers. Why
should Japan submit to explain and defend her
acts and policies?
~ The liberals the other hand, welcome
or seem welcome. the opportunity to explain
and defend. The western powers. they say.
have never understood the Japanese policies,
which are. the whole. benefcent. But they
urge that. to avoid embarrassment. the Japa-
nese government. prior to the conference. evacu-
ate all Japanese troops from China, Siberia and
Russian Sakhaen and settle the zap question
by direct negotiation with the United States
They call on Japan to repudiate militarism and
imperialism. to establish the most cordial and
unselfsh relation with China to grid herself for
the economic struggle under fair rules
Infinite is the talk about the conference
/ have selected some fragments that seemed to
me especially suggestive.
X X X X
UNITED STATES.-The tariff bill. shoi
of the embargo dyestuffs and with hides
oil, cotton and asphalt the free list, passed
the House Thursday.
The experimental airplane bombing attacks
on the ex-German battleship Ostfresland
conducted gallantly and efficiently. They DEM
onstrated that ., 2,000-pound bomb (one-haf of
the weight due to a charge of TNT) dropped
from an airplane will penetrate a t:Iree-inch
protective deck, or striking the water near the
hull. will rip up the hull of battleship under
meath the water and sink her. The batteship
is not obsolete but it requires plenty of aircraft
protection Life aboard in time of war. espe-
cially close to enemy shores. will henceforth
have IN added Zest.
The Senate passed the maternity bill
Friday and sent II to the White House.