The Washington times., 1922-05-11
JAP CONTROL Of
PEk|NG IS AIDED
=. BY WI VICTORY
Union Of Chang With President
Sun Aftermath of Confer
ence BungIing.
. BY RICHARD HATTON.

surprise has been voiced IN some
American quarters at the reapproach-
ment between President Sun Yat-Sen.
OF the Republic of South China, or
the Canton government, as 1t 10
generally called, and General Chang
Tao-Lin, the Manchurian military
leader. Under the circumstances, and
without complete knowledge as to in
ternal political conditions in China. It
is not surprising that the present en-
tente between these two chieftains,
separated by so many leagues of ter.
rttory, should be misunderstood in
the United States.
1t is difficult for Americans to
fathom political conditions in China.
Conditions which seemed inextricsb bly,
tangled before the Washington con-
ference and which We're made even
more unsolvable by the action OF the
tangled before the Washington con
ference presupposed functioning
government in Peking in spite of per.
sistent information 10 the contrary.
II acted upon this supposition, blind
ing itself to the truth as to actual
conditions.
Ine wrong Approach.
In no particular did the Washing.
ton conference approach the Chinese
problem in a spirit calculated TO re-
store peace and sovereignty. The
best II could do was to strengthen
temporarily the hands of the iIlegiti-
mate regime In Peking and bind
China closer in the bonds forged by
japan. For purely diplomatic rea-
sons the conference ignored the only
legal government existing in Chins
the constitutional government of
President Sun Yat-Sen at Canton, and
worked out its formula upon the
known falaciOus theory that Presi.
dent Hsu in Peking was a legitimate e
official.
Whatever may he said regarding
the past OF General Chang Tso-li
the governor Of Manchuria. 1t is
clearly evident. in the light OF recent
events, that. whatever ais past, he
could have had no present connec.
ton with the Peking administration.
the administration which originally
agreed TO the twenty-one demands OF
Japan and. more recently. placed It's
signature to the commitments of the
Washington conference.
II is not generally known I'm Amer.
ica that while the Washington con.
ference was in session the several
factions in China, outside OF Peking.
realizing that a united country could
be brought about through the ascend.
enCy of Sun Yet.sen, sent representa-.
tiVes to Canton to work out a pla n
OF unifiCatton. At this conference
there were delegates representing
Pie.fu, OF central China. and other
leaders: The arrangement entered INTO
contemplated the withdrawal of SUP.
port from the Peking government on
the part of the military leaders and
adherence TO the constitutional gov.
ernment of DIR. Sun Vat sen. In 9th er
words, the chief men of China. re.
gardless OF previous political affilla.
tions. agreed to withdraw their sup.
port from the pro-Japanese admins
tration i'm Peking, which they knew
held power Illegally, and to uphold
the only government in China which
could claim TO be representative OF
the Chinese people.
Chang Tso.lin. OF Manchuria. was
one of the leaders who became 4
party to the compact made at Canton
in the interest of the independence
and peace of all of China. That this
was reversal of his previous atti.
tude can only be considered TO his
credit in that he withdrew his sup.
port from the pro-Japanese regime in
Peking and recognized the pro-Chl,
nese government of Sun Yet-sen ds
the de jure government OF China.
WI For Own Ambitions.
On the other hand, WI Pie.Fu,
who had obtained military control
OF several provinces in Central
China, refused to become party
TO the new coalition and seems TO
have entertained an ambition TO.
himself. become the dictator in
Peking. Thus, II would seem. that,
regardless of his protestations of
patriotism, WI Pie.Fu has seized
the opportunity TO advance his
own military control at the eX.
pense OF the rehabilitation of China
and the establishment of a united
country under an administration
pledged to carry forward the work
of political and Industrial construc.
ton.
That the present victory of WI
Pie-Fu and the resultant control of
Peking, is only temporary seems to
be evident from the fact that the
support of all of the strong po.
litical and military leaders has
been given to the coalition which
has recognized the constitutionality
of the Sui Yat-sen regime. 1t can.
not but be a question of a short
time until Wu's grip upon the
figure.head government in Peking
will be loosened and China will
he once more a united country un.