Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-25
ARE APATHETIC
TO WASHINGTON FARLEY
Disiusoned by Versailles Conference They Distrust
Such Gatherings Chna's Weakness. but
Say thine Not Ripe for Rcjuvenation

SHANGHAI, Dec. 2i.-Why arc the
Chinese ap;Lthctic toward tho Wash
inHton conference? Every foreigner
who watches political tendencies IN
china Is asking himself this qucs-
'!oh, ana no one has found even a
cue to the solution. Foreign news
paper men. knowing how Interested
the people OF the various countries
represented at the conference would
he in news from China. In presen-
tation OF the Chinese point OF view.
are de!HinH deep into Chinese affairs
without discovering that the masses
OF the Chinese people are so much
az 'houghiful about the conference.
which may change the entire course
or history on the mainland OF Asia.
j have called on political leaders at
tended and talked to newspaper men.
The discussion Is casual. cursOry
and Lends nowhere.
Quite different was the situation
when the conference WAS at Yer
sail!cs. Your correspondent was
moving about China and everywhere
wac cvinced keen interest. n Ger
tatnty that the powers were going
TO save China. that the twcnty-onc
demands would be withdrawn. that
the o-cal!cd treaties OF 1915 would
&c annui!cd and that Japan would be
punished by her allies for her mis-
conduct toward China. Then ru-
mors began 20 filter through that not
all Of the Chinese delegation was
loyal To China. There was a story OF
an unofficial delegation making scpa-
rate arrangements with the japanese
and others. There were assurances
from American sources that the
United states would support China
TO anality and counter Uganda
from other nations that America
would do nothing OF the sort.
Student Movement Higgins.
Then one day came the story that
Dr. Wellington Eoo was engaged to
marry the daughter OF Tsao Ju-Lng.
the Minister OF Finance and Com
munscations and since famous as one
OF the three traitors" Tsao was
virtually Japanese agent in China
and he was rcsponsible for tho Orgy
OF loans known as the Nishihara loans
which are 20 important factor in
China's present bankruptcy. The
thought that one OF China's plcnipo-
tentiaries could be making a private
arrangement with Tsao Ju-Iing was
sufficient to create n storm through
out the country. Students In Pcking
called upon the three traitors" and
demanded thnt they stop selling the
country. The students We're ar
rested. 4 house was burned down.
The student movement started. de-
mandlnE that tho treaty be rejected
unless ShantunR wac returned. The
anti-Japancsc boycott followed. The
treaty was not signed by China and
the strong nationalistic movement.
which is now sim the most power
full undcrcurrcnt in Chinese affairs,
began TO cut It's way through ira
ditiOnal conservatism. the family
system and obscurantist govern
mental institutions.
That was in 1919 This year there
is no Indication OF the Washington
conference playing any part in Chi
nese life. Here In Shanghai an CT
fort was made to stimulate an In
tercst during Armistice Day. An i'm
portant resolution was passed at n
meeting OF liberal IN ndcd merchants.
But that was all. The people showed
little interest and, although the no
lit.cal leaders have tried to make
every little ripple on the surface ap-
pear Ike tidal wave OF public en-
thusiasm. their acceleration OF pub
lie opinion leaves the masses as calm
as they were during the war. Things
are happening beyond the seas. 1t
does not concern them. There is no
justice in the foreigner, anyhow.
China viii not gain anything at
Washington. Resides. with n govern
ment as corrupt as Picking. and an
other as futile as Canton represent