White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-08

of the loot. But China is waking up /,
when she presented her proposals at
the disarmament conference in the
form of ten points or demands it be-
gan to be realized that another mem
Der of the family of nations had re-
Gently arrived and expected atten-
ton. As one Chinese journalist has
defined China's position:
She pleads nothing but the right
of existence as an independent and
free nation, unhampered and undis-
turbed by other nations; she demands
nothing but the freedom OF keeping
her own house and maintaining order
therein"
While Japan expresses herself as
favorably disposed toward China's
proposals., ii is plainly evident that
the wish for their adoption is not
parent to the thought of that posi-
hility. and that Japan's zeal in Chi
mas behalf will likely be confined to
bland expressions of sympathy unless
other powerful nations shall actively
interest themselves in putting
through a program of complete re-
construction. There can be but little
doubt that at least two powers, the
United States and Great Britain, will
undertake the task of acting as sure
ties against further s%poliation. Chi
mas prime need is a valid and en-
~forceable insurance policy with two
principal clauses; first, guaranty
against further unjust eneroaehment:
second, the privilege of at least try
ing to ecove some of the loot. The
United States is, and has been for
more than twenty-five years, commit
ted to the open 1oor" principle of
equal trade opportunities in China.
Is we'll as 10 the maintenance of
Chinese sovereignty. but until now
has stood idly by, albeit with feeble
and futile protests. and watched the
persistent violation of both policies.
Great Britain has likewise been ap-
parently Indifferent. although IT is TO
her interest that these policies be ell
forced and maintained.
China presents one of the greatest
potential markets in the world, and
the United States is in an exception
ally favorable position to secure a
large percentage of this trade. We
have always professed friendship for
China and in many ways have shown
ii, although in some respects perhaps
not as effectively as we might; we
have eve despoiled her of her ter
ritories; we forgave her the Boxer
Indemnity; we have assisted her
financially and III relations with her
have always been of the most friendly
consequently her people
feel toward the United States as they
toward no other nation. For the
first time in years we are taking an
active interest in China's affairs. and
at the present conference are earnest
ly trying TO aid her. The adoption OF
proposals, in substance II not
literally, will constitute the measure
of II success, providing we subse-
quently look TO their enforcement. II
be accomplished through dipio-
macy il will mark another triumph
ant step toward lasting peace in the
Pacific and remove a very serious in.
citing cause for war. If, however,
nations involved should unfortn-
natelv be unable to finally conclude
Just accord. an armed conflict will
he almost inevitable at some time in
the future: ii may not occur in the
present decade. but it cannot be
longer postponed. China is
even now engaged in an effort TO re-
construct her military arm. with the
aid OF foreign advisers. so that If war
should ONT she will be able to play
no uncertain part. The seriousness
Of the situation is evident to all the
powers concerned. and gigantic eff
will he made to agree upon q
definite and just policy.
Another question which may here
become serious, although now
apparently settled, is that concerning
Upper Silesia. This territory ap-
pears to have been unequivocally
guaranteed to Poland by the treaty
of Versailles, in calculating the plan
reconstruction of that country;
subsequently. however. il was decid-
ed to leave the matter of annexation
to a p~leDiscite. This perhaps would
have been all right had not Germany
been permitted to repopulate that
section with her subjects who had
previously abandoned their residence
there. sold their properties and re-
turned to Germany. BY thus being
allowed to effectually stuff the ballot
box, Germany was successful in Sc
curing a decree of restoration Of the
lands 70 her domain. The result ac-
complished and the methods used
have left a ore spot with Poland, who
VIII no doubt S every effort in the
future to secure the area of which
she was SO uniustly deprived, and in
this ondeavor she will undoubtedly
have the active support and sympa-
thy OF France. II Poland should at
tempt by force of arms to accomplish
this end, Il is possible that we will
again see the whole of Europe in.
volved in the flames of war. Naval
disarmament would not serve to
avert such r war, and while naval
force might eventually be the decid-
ing factor in the ultimate results OF
the conflict, yet before that time
many Of the countries. both partici-
pants and neutrals (if there we're any
neutralsl would suffer complete
devastation at the hands of the LAND
forces
Still another situation which gives
support to the view that mere reduc-
ton in naval power will not stop war,
is that of France in her position to-
ward Germany. AS established by the
United States army authorities
France is today maintaining an act