Evening star., 1923-08-08
CHINESE BAND|TRy
AIDED BY NATIONS
Leaders Find Haven When
Hard Pressed on Conces-
sions of Foreign Powers.
BY JUNIUs II. WOOD.

ny Cable 10 The Star and Chicago Daily News.
PEKING. China, August S.--For-
eign responsibility for the revolu-
tions, banditries and other disorders
In China has now reached such an
extent that the powers are seriously
considering ways to clear their own
skirts. BY responsibility, II is not
meant that they, unitedly or individ
ually. instigate or participate in these
popular diversions of China, though
some suspicious persons have charged
that such things have happened. Their
responsibility comes after the deed
Is done-accessories after the fact.
according 10 legal phraseology.
Colonies. international settlements,
Foreign concessions and legation
and consular properties make the
powers involuntary actors III the
drama. Under the extra -territoriality
privileges which certain foreigners
enjoy III China--it has been revoked
as 10 Russians and nationals of the
central powers-the same sanctity
from intrusion by native authorities
that is granted to diplomatic prem
ises III all lands is extended to the
foreign settlements and concessions
IN China. Foreigners govern them as
patch of their home land. exempt
from Chinese law or officials. In ad-
dition 10 the British and Portuguese
colonies OF Hongkong and Macao and
the British. Japanese and French
leased territories of kowloon and
"eihdiwei kWantung and kWang-
choWan. foreign sovereignty is eXer-
ciSed i'll nineteen other cities-thir-
teen foreign settlements and seven
British, six Japanese. three French,
one Belgian and one Italian conces-
sions.
Flock 10 Protected Soil.
A goodly proportion of the disor-
oerS in China are incubated under
forelgn protection. 1t did not take
the Chinese long to awaken to their
opportunity and take ADVANTAGE OF
the western custom OF affordng asy-
lum to political refugees. once the
bars were down through this pre-
t+Nt, everybody troop"d in. Some of
must call halt ON the abuse nf
their well intentioned hospitality. II
mas gone To extremes which are hard
ly believable.
In Shanghai, where foreigners
share responsibility. a bandit chief
is one of the residents. When Chin
ese authorities got too close in pur-
suit he saved his skin. their face and
me business Of his gang by fleeing TO
the settlement. He was safe Mem
inally. he is retired and presuma bly,
repentant bandit Actually. accord, :,
Ing 70 the generally repeated stories
In the city. he continues as chief OF
his band 'tn ahsento." his lieutenants
calling regularly to get their orders
and bringing him the lions share of
the gangs loot so that he can live in
proper style among the foreigners
There is no reason TO consider this an
Isolated case II is notorious that
representatives of the Hunghutze
bandits live in one of the concessions
OF Tientsin and that dues can be paid
there for immunity in the bandits
held Of operation i'll distant Manchu
ria.
still issues Orders
These are extreme abuses of the
foreign concessions which can be
eradicated easily Their coptribu-
tion to the political decentralization of
China Is more insidious and harder
to deal with. A glaring example ex-
lists at the present time. Ii Yuan
hung, who insists he stiil is the
President Of China, is in one foreign
concession in Tientsin. sending forth
presidential mandates. Several of