The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-02
A Timely Editorial
Future Balance of World Power

From the Christian Science Monitor
 The European hubbub of the last few weeks-whateve it has ac- complished constructively for Europe--has served to divert world attention from careful scrutiny of developments in the Far. East. If-as students of world affairs would have us believe-the next great crisis in human history is to arise in the Orient, these develop ments, for the historian, are of no less significance than recent events in Europe. Early in 1920, Soviet Russia, it will be recalled, made a series of. alluring offers to the Chinese government. These in- cluded the granting of every de- mand which China-in justice. by the way-had made upon nations enjoying special privileges within. her borders, i. e., renunciatlon or spheres of interest, withdrawal Of troops and police, withdrawal of post offices, abolition of consular jurisdiction, relinquishment of the leased territories, restoration or the foreign concession and settle ments, and complete tariff auton- omy.
 Despite it's craftiness China ignor- ed this appeal. While other nations notably the United States-were refusing to do business with the soviets, China did not wish to act alone in entering into agreements of so comprehensive a character with so doubtful a government. During the last two years, however, the situation has altered. Not that, at the present time, the Chinese are more sympathetic to the social and economic doctrines of other soviets than in 1920. The very elements in Russia which brought about the revolution and the sub sequent establishment of bolshevism are lacking in China. But during the last two years the soviet gov- ernment has apparently strength ened its position at home, has been invited to sit at the interna- tional conference table, and has entered into commercial agree ments with western powers. At the present time China is being driven to closer relations with Russia by the demands of national self-in- terest.
 There are many ties of common interest uniting the two countries. For 5000 miles they have a com mon boundary line. Parts of Si- beria are dependent upon Man. churian grain, and Russia general ly, has relied for her meat supply upon Mongolia. Large quantities of timber, furs, and skins are inn ported into China from Siberia every year. The first commercial treaty which China enacted with any nation was that with Rus sia in 1889, and since. then her re- lations with the Russians have been closer than with any other people of the Occident--save, during the past 23 years, with the. American.
 The present situation facing China is just this. Russia has a fair-sized army in Mongolia and along the Manchurian frontier. With the defeat of the various white armies the Soviet has become the dominant power of Siberia. The first and most important item on the program is a reassertion of Rus sian interest in the Chinese East ern railway, which, in the absence of Chinese power, has been usurped by the Japanese. Manchuria, in fact. is destined to be the empire in which the complex questions of Russo-Sino-Japanese relationships will be settled. The fear which is driving China toward a re-estab- li.hment of friendlier relations with Russia is that of a .Russo-Japanese alliance, having as it's purpose the joint exploitation of China's re- sources in Manchuria. It is not at all inconceivable that Japan might trade her interests in north Sagha- lin Island to the soviet in exchange for certain interests, perhaps in the Chinese Eastern railroad. Such a division of spells, in fact, would find much favor among certain el, rents in Japan. It is to fore stall such a move that China is looking with favor upon the ad- vances being made by the soviet