Evening star., 1923-11-18
BY FRANK H. HEDGES.
! ALLIED into life by patriotism.

~ ALLIED into life by patriotism.
the student movement OF
China has become an inpor-
tant factor in the disturbed
politics of that nation. Militarist and
statesman alike are forced to reckon
with the power of student opinion
and its influence in the republic. One
cabinet was totally wrecked and most
of it's members are still in exile from
their homeland. Millions OF dollars
worth OF legitimate business has been
lost to the merchants of Japan dur
ing the past four years because OF
the boycott of Japanese made goods
originated and fostered by the youth
of China. Their influence was felt
Indirectly at the Washington confer
| ence, for the China delegation knew
that public opinion. crystailized and
directed by the students of China,
was behind them in their stand on
the Shantung question.
Are an Organized Unit.
It seems rather queer that mere
students. boys and a few girls. who
have not yet struck out into the
world for themselves. should be SO
important a factor. The principal
reason is that they are an organized
unit. The tools Of democratic gov
ernment are still largely unfamiliar
to the people Of China, and there are
no political parties in the sense OF
those In this country or in England
There is no organized public opin-
ion. The student movement repre-
sents the most numerous single group
Of persons in the republic which acts
Many Of the University professors
Of China. and probably most of the
politicians. are very mch opposed to
the student movement as a move
ment. The professors argue that tn.
students should give their whole time
| and attention to classroom work
and not attempt to, interfere In
arguments Of the politicians are moi
| put into words, but are predicateG
| on fear Of what the students may dc
to their plans and careers.
Birth Of Movement.
The Versailles treaty is directly re.
| sponsible for the birth Of the student
movement in China. When China
| learned that the allies had indorse6
Japan's acquisition of all the former
German rights in that section OF
Shantung province leased to German.
and In the so-called Shantung rail.
/ way, the. outcry of the students
against such injustice was heard from
| one end of the land to the other
Two monster demonstrations, on Ma,
and on June 3, 1919, were staged b.
| them against the measure. TIL,
| Peking government refused to ratify
the treaty, and 1t was not until 1872
ended the state OF war between those
two nations.
/; While the Shantung issue wa.
easily visible, underlying the studen
movement was double aim: II
bring about reforms in the govern
ment Of China and to drive from offlc'
all officials under the influence o
any foreign government, japanese o
otherwise. This aim expressed itsel
in two concrete policies. The anti
japanese boycott and demonstration
:against the government then II
power. Both were eminently success
iiful and the students became fred witt
ambition and overconf1dent.
Demonstrators Make Demand.
| Before the Washington conference
met they drew up q platform Of de
mands to be submitted by China
When 1t looked from the opposit
shore Of the Pacific as IL China nigh
enter into direct negotiations wit
Japan over the return Of the lease
territory in Shantung, demonstrator
in Peking demanded that no sue
step be taken. More recently tn
students have revived the anti
Japanese boycott because of Japan
refusal to return Dairen and tn
Ileased territory in Manchuria- From
time to time particular governmen