Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-05
THE COST OF CHINESE CHAOS

n1SPATCHES from Pekin describe Presf.
~ dent Hsu as standing on the balcony OF
the former Empress Dowager's palace, in
tently listening to the cannonading OF two
armed factions contesting for the mastery Of
his tumultuous country. President Hsu. It
is added. sis watching the progress Of events
with keen interest,"
Considering that he is likely to be turned
out any moment by either Of the two in
famed groups of partisans. it can scarcely
be said that this report is vulnerable on the
score of over emphasis.
Comprehension of the finer shades of mill.
tant Chinese politics is still denied to West.
erners. 1t is puzzling, for instance, to note
the reported transfer Of Dr. Sun Vat Sens
allegiance to General Chapg, supposedly an
exponent of extreme militarist principles
and suspected even of monarchist sympa-
thies.
DR.. Sun Is popularity regarded as liberal.
which would lead non Chinese to imagine
that his sympathies would lie with General
Changs opponent. General WI, represent.
ing Southern and Central interests. But
from this distance only the bare objective
outhnes or situation excessively confused
can be discerned.
Contrary to many expectations, WI ap.
pears. for the moment. at least, to be gain.
ing the upper hand In battle fought with
modern weapons, strikingly in contrast 70
the parasos and fans with which. it Is said.
some of the Chinese troops went TO war
against Japan in the nineties, WI has de-
feated his opponent on three fronts near the
walls of Pekin
Inc gates of that city have been closed,
ana president Hsu, in response to pressure
from the foreign embassies, is pleading for
a cessation Of hostilities and a settlement Of
the issues by negotiation.
Evidently memory of the siege of the
embassies in 1900 is still vivid in the lega.
tions. There is only superficial similarity
IN the situation. since it is paratiyely un.
likely that the methods of the Boxer days.
VIII be repeated. 1t is now not SO much the
foreigners who are imperiled as China her.
SELF
- The perplexed, yet "keenly interested,
Government in Pekin has already urged
the temporary abandonment by the Wash.
lnstoh Conference Powers of the projected
steps to rid China Of the modification of
extra ra'territorality claims observed hv cav.
eral outside nations, including particularlv
the TN United States, Great Britain and
France. "'" anu
A commission designed to investigate this
jurisdiction with a view to its permanent
elimination was provided for by the Wash.
ington Conference. and was to have been
organized within three months after the close
OF tne sessions. The time limit expires to.
The postponement of this inquiry will
seriously delay that recognition of the gen.
uine national integrity of China which, on
paper. was so encouragingly advocated at
Washington. 1t is an historical irony that
the request to halt proceedings should come
from the nation which was to have been the
exclusive beneficiary.
As the case now stands. chaotic China Is
engaged in damaging those very causes for
which her delegates, representing the now
dazed Pekin regime, pleaded SO eloquenty in
the United States only few months ago.