Evening star., 1921-12-08

reCliy lTom ner, Out from otner po" =
ers at considerable sacrifice in men
and treasure, because this assurance
appears to confirm the views of the
Chinese delegation that the mainte-
nance of foreign leased territories in
China jeopardizes the peace in the
far east. 1t will be recalled that Rus
sia's possession of Port Arthur and
Dalny and Germany's possession of
Kiaochow eventually brought two
wars on Chinese territory and result
ed in the installation of Japan her
self in these leased areas.
AS to the leased territory of Kwan-
tung province. namely. Port Arthur and
Dalny. its original term will expire in
1925, and while an extension to ninety
nine years was obtained by Japan in
1915 it was obtained in such circum-
stances that the dispute about its
validity remains one of the most grave
outstanding questions between China
and Japan.
/ Both Port Arthur and Dalny are sit
uated in Manchuria, which is an i'm
portant part of Chinese territory. Not
only does the national safety Of China
rely upon the safeguarding Of Man
churia as an integral portion of the
Chinese republic. because these three
eastern provinces. as the Chinese call
Manchuria, have been the historic road
of invasion into China throughout the
past centuries, but also the security OF
the economic life of the Chinese people
depends in a very vital measure, upon
the conservation and development with
the surplus capital of the world Of the
natural and agricultural resources in
Manchuria, a region where today an
abundance of raw material and food
supplies is already accessible to all
nations, on fair terms and through the
normal operation Of the economic law
of supply and demand Moreover. Man.
churia is an important outlet for the
surplus population from the congested
provinces in other parts of China.
Chinese Interests Vital.
In view of the foregoing facts, it is
clear that China has such truly vital
interests in Manehuria that the interests
Of any foreign power therein, however
important they may be in themselves,
cannot compare with them. The fact of
close proplnquity Of Manchuria to
Korea, if it justifies any claim to con-
sideration, can be equitably appealed to
only on the condition Of recipI ocity.
AS to the statement that assurance
was given by the American, British
and French governments at the time
of the formation of the international
consortium that the vital interests OF
Japan in Manchuria shall be safe
guarded, the Chinese delegation do not
feel in a position, since China was
not consulted at the time, 10 express
an opinion as to the question of its
accuracy. Should such assurance have
been given, they could not, however
conceal their feeling thatit cannot
be reconciled with the principle which
was adopted by the conference or
November Il Of respect for the SOW.
ereignty, the independence and the
territorial and administrative integ.
trity of China.
AS to the leased territory of Kow.
loon, leased to Great Britain, mucl
is to be said for the importance o.
Hongkong to the trade of nations, ant
for the way In which its facilities art
world, and while there may be g
necessity to provide for the protection
of the Honskong harbor in the inter.
ests of such trade the retention Of
kowloon may not necessarily be, II
the view of the Chinese delegation
the sole solution of this problem.
Desire to show Position.
In making the foregoing statement
however, the Chinese delegation ha.
desired only to make its position
clear, and unless the committee wishe:
to continue discussion at this meeting
the Chinese delegation desires to re.
serve for the future further Observa.
tions on the question of the LEASED
territories.
The chairman observed that in the
course of the discussion reference hat
been made by the Japanese and Chi
nese representatives to the attitude Of
the United States in relation to the
consortium. He assumed that the
representatives Of Japan and China
had no intention to refer to anything
other than the correspondence already
published, and, as this had been made
public, he did not consider 1t heces.
sary to add anything thereto at tht!
time.
The proposal of the Chinese delega.
ton that "China's rights as neutral
are to be fully respected in future
wars to which she is not party" was
unanimously adopted after state
ment made by DR.. Wang, as follows
THE proposition advanced by the
Chinese delegation is an obvious one
it is in substance a corollary OF the
by this committee on November. IL
This subject would not be presented
for discussion. except for the fact that
in the past China's rights in this re-
spect have been grievously disregard
ed. need only refer you to the
Russo-Japanese war. which. SO Tar as
land operations are concerned. was
Again, at the time of the military ex-
pedition against Tsingtao in the late
war. belligerent troops landed at q
point $50 miles from the leased terri
tory of Kiaochow. 49,
1T is clear that should similar in
cidents occur there would be furnish
ed just cause of complaint by the non-
offending belligerent power not only
against the offending .beliigerent pow
er. but also against China herself
Furthermore, they would tend to
weaken, throughout the world the re.
spect due, in time of war. to neutral
powers. With these preliminary re.
marks I leave this question to the