Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-27
Ry FREDERIC ]. Haskin

! Washington. u. &, Dee. 2t-WIth the
four-power pact settled thing, the
case Of China is now tho chief business
of the Washington conference.
The most important phase OF this
case is the position OF Japan in Man
churia This viii certainly be brought
up at the conference. and there viii
probably be n restatement of the open
door policy of the United States. and
OF the fact that Mauchuria is an inte-
gral part OF China.
! 1t is timely to give a brief account
OF how the japanese hold in Manchurit
was obtained. because II shows how a
rela lively defeuscless nation like China
lean he plundered in spite OF all treaties
and agreements protecting her, and
how the United states is involved in
the situation by means OF tho Hay
doctrine
/ The penetration OF Manchuria was
begun by Imperial Russia in 1925 IN
her effort 10 obtain new outlets 70
tho sea For this purpose she made
a treaty with China which gave her
tho right to build the Siberian railway
across Nanchurla 20 Nladivoatok,
China reserved tho right to purchase
the railway in SO years.
Tho next step was tho lease in 1898
OF Liao-Tung in southern Msnchuria
to Russia, and tho puIding there OF
Port Arthur and Dalny.. This was fol-
lowed by an agreement for the oNtcn-
sion Of the Chinese Eastern Railway
from HarbIn TO Port Arthur and Da'ny,
Russia seems 20 have administered
these interests in China fairly. Her
troops there were limited TO railway
guards. and opportunities in Manchur.a
were equal for all nationals.
OTHER CHINESE GRABS
These acquisitions by Russia were
about contemporaneous with the acqui-
sitions' OF leases OF Chinese maritime
territory. by tho other principal pow
erS-Tsingtau by Germany. weiheiNci
and Kowloon by Great Britain. and
EuanEchouwan by France In a word
all OF the principal powers except
the United states took advantage Of
this period Of China's weakness TO get
an economic foothold there
Following the Russo-Japaucsn war,
Japan took over most OF the Russian
leases and concessions IN Msnchurla.
thereby gaining her present foothold
there. Tho Portsmouth treaty express
ly states that Russia had no agree
ments with china which impaired
Chinese sovereignty or tho open door
principle, and therefore Japan was
bound TO respect these two principles.
Then came the world war. During this
period Japan proceeded to make n
series Of agreements with China and
with tho other powers which arc gen
erAltN regarded as haNug impaired ho'ii
Chinese SOY crciEnfv and the open door
principle. These included the famous
I2l demands. the 1915 agreements OBJ
tanned from China by ulimatum the
secret agreements with the European
allies by which Shanuung passed to
Japan from Germany, and additional
agreements with China in 1917 and 1915
with regard to Mar-snuris and Mon
Eolia.
Ry these means Japan obtained tho
extension OF tho Fort Arthur and
Dalny leases for % years. freedom OF
residence and travel aud right to own
! land for Japanese in Mauchurln, aud
the extension OF Sou-n Manchuri rail-
way rights for ~ years. At the same
| time Japan increased her military
| forces In Mauchuria until she had ac.
cordiug TO an official estimate. 10000
troops there.
| In addition TO extracting these ad.
vsntages from China and 70 garrison.
ing Manchurla with Japanese troops
1T Is charged that l-pan has violate.
the opNn-door principle or equal trade
opportunities in Nauchuria In a num-
Dor Of ways. Thus Il - said that Jar
a1ese firms arc given preferential scr,
vice at the banks. at ports or entrl
and railway stations. and at trans
shipment points like Kobe Jana n. wher.
Japanese goods are expedited Will,
those Of other nationals arc DELAYED
Japanesn controlled railways arc SaiS
TO give sper al favprs 10 japanese ship
lpers. including some sort or secret re-
bate system, chinese who do not wnrl
with the japanese are sRid to be har
rassed in various ways by tho Japan,
csc, Local Chinese taxes are said to h
levaded hy tho japanese. while othe'
foreign traders are compelled 10 uaN
them. Japanese arc sid TO have takcr
ladvantaE &c Of wartime censorship reg,
lulstons 20 learn business secrets oN
foreign firms American trade mark.
lare said 10 have been counterfcited b,
the Japanese with impuni'y
All u these and many Other abuse,
have been repeatedly complained Of
both by Americans and hv traders of
other nations. Under the Rnssian ocru
ustion 10 is said that no such unfail
determinations were practiced
| THE AMERICAN POLICY
Now the Tilted States IL committe,
to the open door policy Of msinta iniul
equal trade opportunities in china. an,
also to the maintenance or Chimes.
| lovereignty. Both Of these have benl
violated. Il Is said by Japan in Man
| churia. They have also been violated
more or less by tho European power
In their esseholis In China. and bj
| their secret agreements with japan
! Es5s European powers have conn'ya,