New-York tribune., 1921-12-25

Fl sudden and spectacular de-
scent from Mukden upon Pc
king just when President
Hsu's regime appears to be tottering,
with niomentous consequences to the
Chinese Republic. raises the question
whether the Manchuran dictator is
about to realize his dream Of empire
with himself as the master lf China.
AT any rate Chang is recognized as
holding the whiphand in the kaleido-
scopic changes which arc bound 10 oc-
cur in Chinese affairs.
Raised to power by his own indomi-
table courage and ruthless destruc-
tion of his enemies, Chang, without any
sanction from the Chinese Parliament
or vote OF the people, has determined
to reorgauise the government with a
view to unifying the various military
factions which have split the country
He has dismissed President Hsu's Cabi-
net. He is considering whether Hsu
himself should not resign, and he has
sent word TO the Chinese delegates at
the Conference on the Limitation OF
Armament that Shantunm must be re-
turned to China by Japan and that
unless Japan's famous twenty-one de-
mands, imposed upon China in 1915. are
abrogaSed the principles framed by Elihp
Root and adopted by the conference to
protect China's territorial integrity
will amount to nothing more than
scraps Of paper
T But in the bach Of his mind Chang
is said TO nourish an ambition to cover
! himself with glory suggestive OF the
barbaric spicndor Of the Middle Ages.
1t is no less than the establishment in
Inner Mongolia. Chihli and Manchura
of an autocratic empire after the model
set by Jenghiz Khan, who, in the thir-
teenth century, spvang out Of Mongolia
and with his Tartar hordes subdued
China from east to west, laying waste
cities and extorting tribute from peo-
pies ss far away as Turkestan.
Chang's present power is undsputed.
He sits on throne in his palace in
Mukden. AS Inspector general Of the
three Msnchurian provinces he has
| vast army at his command. Japan
must consult him in reference to her
Manchurian pcssessions-the South
Msnchurian railway, Port Arthur and
DaireE. China must consult him in
any dealings she may have with Japan.
Hence Chang finds himself consulted
by both sides and fabulous sums are
said TO fnd their way into his treasury.
Chang, War Lord, Can
Neither Read Nor Write
/ Who is Chang and what is the secret
Of the rise of the Manchurian war lord,
VINO, it is said, can neither read nor
write He is kind OF glorifed
Francisco Villa. Like Villa he rose
from the ranks Of a bsndit army. He
is an alien to Manchuria, having been
born in another province less than fifty
years ago. He received no education il,
his youth. During the Russo-Japanese
War he fought on the side Of Japan.
On account Of bravery he was pro-
NOTED to q command in the Chinese
army, and in 1911 he became Governor
considered and with it must be con-
sidered the speech made by Senator
Lodge in presenting it to the confer
cnce for, in diplomatic usage, this
speech constitutes an Official and en-
during record Of the American inter
probation Of this treaty. We are COM
n1itted to nothing which is not stated
in chat speech, because that speech
definitely establishes the American in
tcrpretation of the treaty itself.
Over the language Of the agreement