Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22
BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.


With litany adopted defining the
principles to be observed in working
out a solution for China, the confer
ence on far eastern problems Is fair
ly started on the troublesome sub
ject. There may be question
whether the high principles enun-
ciated by Mr.. Root and adopted
by the powers yesterday are merely
to apply to their future conduct or
are also to be the standard for weigh
Ing actions which now have been
sanctified by time and passed into
the realm of accomplished facts.
talk Of the wrdks which have been
inflicted on theif country in the past
as well as about the pitfalls which
threaten her in the future, and 1t is
safe to assume that the powers which
agreed on such idealism. at the same
pressing their Arm Intention must
practice the same unselfshness in
righting past mistakes. J,
Strike. Crux Of Problem.
The pledge to respect the territorial
and administrative integrity of China"
as expressed in the first resolution
strikes the crux of the problem in the
minds of the Chinese delegation. They
want the conference to define. What
is China?" Some have suggested that
China be defined as that portion of
Asia which is within the great wall Of
China. To the Chinese that suggestion
is like telling an American that the
original thirteen colonies are the area
Of the United States. In the Chinese
view not only the twenty lone provinces
of China proper but Manchuria, outer
Mongolia, eastern Turkistan (Sinkiang)
and Tibet are part Of China, extending
is to 81 degrees north and "a to 1856
ence to make their definition official
among the nations Of the world.
This means more than minor ques-
lions of concessions, settlements. colo
MES, extraordinarily and other en-
croachments on China's administrative
and territorial integrity which already
exist. 1t is at once guarantee that
the partitioning of China is to stop and
a ILLUMINATION of China's boundaries
After the conference adjourns and the
United States returns to its home cleo
lions and hourly sensations, persistent
Japan will not be able to annex Man.
churia and outer Mongolia, nor will far
Hghted Britain take Tibet and few
years later eastern Turkistan, waving
aside China's protest with an excuse
that they are not a part Of China. The
four outer provinces are more than half
Basis for Future Action.
With China defined as basis for
future action the delegates will be
administrative infringements Of the
past. Concessions. settlements and
foreign colonies are territorial en-
|croachments. but China is content to
let most Of them stand without ques-
ton for the time being. She only asks
that the powers in conference adopt
as definite an agreement as possible
as to the conditions under which
these portions Of Chinese territory
may be returned to China.
Shantung and the Liaotung lease.
both held by Japan, are in a different
class. China wants a showdown on
them, as both are in a way the result
her when Marquis Okunna was premier
Of Japan. As to Shantung, there prob
ably will not be much argument.
|Gapan is willing to return it, though
retaining control of the railroad and
certain military supervision. She
probably would waive the latter per-
quisites II China. would sanction
special privileges for Japan in Man
churia and Mongolia and accept the
ninety-nine-year extension of the
Liaotung lease, a corollary Of the
twenty-one demands. as an accom-
pltShed fact. go 3 a
LiaotunE Lease Factor. :
If Manchuria. and Outer Mongolia
are defined as a part of China, other
powers will be. concerned in main
tanning the open door and equal OPP
portunity, and it Is taken out Of
China's hands as a trading propssi-
tion. The Liaotung lease is propo-
sitions between her and Japan. but
1t cannot fail to be factor In the
conference. Japan received the
peninsula from China as the fruits
Of the war of 1894, but France. Ger
many and Russia forced her to return
It. China leased 1t to Russia and
Japan took the lease from Russia In
the war Of 1904. That lease expires
in March, 1923. There is renewal
for ninety-nine years which China
questions! Japan feels that she has
twice paid for Liaotung in blood.
Also Dairen is the tidewater ter
minal for her South Manchurian rail-
road and her commercial interests In
Manchuria, and Mongolia and Siberia
demand that she keep It. China has
little objection to that, but, Hike a
thrifty landlord, believes that prop
erty values have increased and wants
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