The Washington herald., 1921-11-08


II Mexico but for President Wilson. But for
the same agency, Carranza probably would
not have been President But for the allies Haps-
burg would be on Hungary's throne The present
: German government has been held in power by in
huences outside of Germany. Posnds government
is largely made in Paris, and the fate of Turkey
rests outside that national remnant.
1t is not the unusual but quite the reverse,
that peoples government, quite unknown to them,
IS chosen for them by other governments and main
tanned in power by the same influence. 1t would
seem that the Washington conference might have
much such a problem in China. Reports coming
! from there, tell of almost complete chaos. The
Pekng government has defaulted payment of an
American loan. 1t has funds with which to meet
ITS other bills. 1t is virtually bankrupt
z Few Americans seem to realize how loose
government China has. 1t is largely bundle of
provinces without adequate binders The prov
inces are virtually independent. They have their
own armies, collect their taxes and only so far as
they choose, are under national sovereignty.
Governed usually by military leader, they may
change their allegiance over night this leader
/. hnds it to his advantage. The Peking govern
ment is supposed to control the northern half of
China AS a fact, it seems to control none
of it.
DR.. Sun claims control of the south half from
Canton. 1t may be doubted if he really controls
even that province. The north and south armies
are really combination of provincial armies which
and go. 1t is estimated that over I2soooo
men are now under there. These men have
not been paid. They cannot be demobilized until
they are paid and it is reported that they are
roaming over the empire looting and pillaging
With such conditions, the delegates here to repre-
sent China, represent what? At most they are
Of the Pekng government
Why undertake to FIX policy for China that
is not? Why talk of the control of railroads. of
the integrity OF national administration of equality
in trade, of equal commercial opportunity of con-
cessions and the like when there is no government
with which to deal? Why disarm all her neighbors
and leave over 100000 armed men to roam over
. China collecting their own back pay?
Russia has 100000 people. China has 400
100000. Conditions may soon be far worse in the
latter than in the former country as the Soviet has
an army under command and a form of govern
Z ment. In China the only havens of safety may
be in the concession cities under foreign con-
troll. Under such conditions, it may be difficult for
the conference to determine if it is gathered for an
autopsy, a resurrection. Whether it is to Off
ciate at funeral, a reincarnaton.
If the latter it must be China's lob She must
give evidence of spirit to be reborn and sub
stance in which to house it. There must be the
will to live. No one other country could by armed
force, establish a government there Japan would
not attempt this, if free to do So Nor could all
the governments do it with any assurance of per-
manence. But if China has left even remnant of
a government fit to be recognized, a stable rule can
be built upon it from the outside. If there is
strong man acceptable to north and south who can
form the frame OF a government the conference can
do the rest
II ,.J
the right powers of the conference could establish
itself and persist The powers can do there as has
so often been done elsewhere. Nor can they do
otherwise ii matters are reported for China de-
moralized is a vital menace to Japan and to In
da. So it be that the first really serious busi-
ness OF the conference may be to establish a gov
ernment in China for the Chinese, by the Chinese
and having come together in this, the rest NAV be
much easier than ii there was now united China,
with united government representing 4ooooAooo
people.