The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-04
Wondering How
Unity Will Be Brought
About

Americas interests on both
sides lot the Pacific are involved
81 the Chinese problem. To
get the facts on China, In the
light OF their relation to the
United States, William Philip
sttnrns is now studying condt
Tons there for readers Of The
West Evirginian.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs.
Written Expressly for The News.
. paper Enterprise Association.
SHANGHAI, May 3. - China to,
day stands face to face with one
of two alternatives: Unity or for.
eign Intervention in some form or
other.
Either a strong man will emerge
from the jangle of Jealous military
and political 5cabals now maneuver.
ing for power and dominate the sit.
uationy by sheer force Of brain and
personality, else the great powers
must lend a hand. however gentle,
and benevolent, to save the nation
sfcm going hopelessly to pieces.
Az present the country is Just
dfffti1g with the current, In dire
danserat every bend Of the stream
ot being washed up on the shore
or being pulled UP on the shore. by
some hand or hands interested in
J the loot 10 be found in the wreck
Z age:
Imagine Mexico in her darkest
hour with autonomy movements in
fun swing here and there, insurrec.
tfu1s in various parts OF the coun.
THY this and that military chief
threatening 10 march on the cap
mn finances in a hopeless mess,
salaries In arrears. bandits operat.
ing against the inhabitants hither
4pd yor and the government wayer.
og helplessly the while. Imagine
Me2icp's plight and some faint idea
may be registered of what China Is
NOW going through.
only where Mexico has a handful
of people within her comparatively
narrow borders, China has four
hundred millions, three hundred
and ninety millions Of whom realize
little OF what is going on in their
land and are Indifferent 10 every.
thing save their own troubles,
Restoration?
Mexico, too, had the United
states to stand between her and
; foreign Intervention and through
out her troubles enjoyed complete
Independence Of action, whereas
CHINA not only has to ask permits.
sion Of this or that great power
pretty nearly every time she buys a
new bottle Of ink, but is In consld.
prable doubt as TO what is and what
g hot her own territory Or what
nie may do on such territory as she
earg with safety, call her own.
Tho question Chinese arc asking
theinselyas Is: How is unity 10 be
brought about?
Another is: II foreign powers In.
tefvene what will he the form and
nature Of such intervention?
subsidiary poser Is: Can a re-.
public Weld together the multitude.
nous factions into which China has
split or must an emperor be set
M on throne and unity achieved
through him?
like Kaleidoscope.
one Of the characteristics OF tho
present chaos in China is the ali.
sence OF anything resembling an
answer to any OF the 'abovc 1ues-
tfpnsSor the questions growing out
Of them.
sone Chinese favor onc thing,
come favor another, while 1t is d
matter Of common knowledge that
eiashing foreign interests are busy,
both openly and secretly, promot.
Ing the projstts OF this or that
slique in an effort to turn the sit.
gattnn TO their own particular ad.
vantage,
Ghina's position defies analysis.
asked a foreign resident here, a
man who has written two or three
beoks on China, and who has lived
II This country constantly for the
aT10syears, to tell me the present
ystatus Of the row between the north
] and South.
don't know what 1t is myself"
he replied. Il have been out OF