The Cordova daily times., 1922-12-07
OLD ROW OVER CHINA R. R. IS
 REOPENED

PEKiNG, Dec. 7.--The first round of the international railway struggle has begun with the convening of the board of directors of the Chinese Eastern Railway The claimants to ownership are White" Russia, backed by France, the Soviet and the independent Chang Tso-lin, backed by Japan. The principal referee is an American, John F.. Stevens, who, as Chief of the In terallied Technical Board, has fought desperately to secure fair play and the honest utilization of the railroad revenue. The stake is the control ling link between the Far East and Europe and, incidentally, the maiK artery to Russia.
 First fruits have thus far been borne off by the White" Russian group, who, by virtue of manag- ing director appointed by them and Q Chinese President whom they man aged to place on the pedestal with out power, now control the railway administration and funds. They have also strengthened their position by making through traffic agreement with the Japanese roads whereby Dairen secures preferential rates, which, it is believed, will eliminate other northern Chinese and Siberian ports, including Vladivostok.
 Trickery Charged
 This was bitterly opposed by the Soviet, as well as by China. Ste vens virtually accused the directors of selling out to Japan for the lat ter's political support. He also at tackled the policy of the managing director, Ousroumoff, as wasteful and deliberately detrimental to the best interests of the road. It is openly alleged that Oustroumoff re- ceived a fee of 300,000 yen from Japan for negotiating the, traffic agreement.
 The line has been a source of continual intrigue since it's construc- tion and, while strategically located, has been run at a loss, due to the absorbing political interests which are attached The means by which the White" Russians have kept control, although deprived of both financial and government support, is in itself an amazing history of aero batical diplomatic intrigue.
 The original purpose of the road was to promote the Russian eco homie invasion of the East. Con struction was begun in 1896, when a concession was wrung from the Chinese government. The Trans-Si- berian Railroad was extended there by southeast to Port Arthur and northeast to Vladivostok. The stock of the company was held by the Russo-Asiatic Bank, but the money was advanced by the Russia gov ernment, which took in return de- benture bonds and reserved a cer- tain interest in the management.
 laps Gain Control
 After the Russo-Japanese War Japan secured the southern half of the line and has since then always looked with greedy eyes upon the remaining half. Inasmuch as as the line also provides for the policing of the areas traversed, for the pub lie utilities of the most of the cities touched, and, in addition, maintains schools and special settlement, its ownership amounts practically to the possession of an important part of Siberia, including many thousand square miles of rich territory
 The Russian collapse in 1917 gave Japan her chance, but she was blocked by the Interallied Techni- cal Board, which was created for the purpose of maintaining the Rus sian railroads. It's activity unfor- tunately was limited to the Chinese Eastern Railroad. John F. Stevens, the American engineer, was made chairman of the board, while Japan, being only one of several members, lost her coveted control.
 China Makes Claims
 In 1920, with the rise of the so- viets, China claimed the right to all Russian properties within her ter ritory and proceeded to take over the Chinese Eastern Railroad. But the stock was held by the Russo Asiatic Bank, whose headquarters had been moved to Paris and whose stock is now 60 per cent. French owned Thus France stood China off, and there was compromise which ceded half of the control to China. With, the Technical Board V i-