Evening star., 1923-10-14


world for the seven days ended
October 13:
China.-In August representatives at Peking
of sixteen foreign powers presented to the act
ing Chinese foreign minister a note the
Lin Ching bandit affair, demanding indemnf-
ties and punitive. corrective and prophylactic
action. Ample, butsnot excessive indemnities
Were named Brigandage declared the note.
must be suppressed, foreigners must be pro-
tected officials guilty of remissness or worse
in connection with the Lin Ching business must
be punished; for several higher officials alleged
ishment must be So e and so E' The diplomatic pho
body proposed to collaborate with the Chinese
cient police force to be supervised by foreign
officers. The note ended with the following
"It is difficuIt to see how the acting foreign
minister behind whom there Is president,
no cabinet. no prime minister, and not even
parliament in session. commit himself to
any answer OF satisfactory character to the
Precisely Then why present the note?
Presumably to have the sentiments of the
a president, etc. who could commit themselves
desired.
Late in September the Chinese foreign min
lister replied on behalf Of his supposititious
government. taking a lofty line. His govern
Lin Ching outrages. and therefore. was con-
strained to refuse compliance with the diplo-
equitable compensation 1T so happened
in a spirit of generosity, X proposed to pay
moreover, Slyly observed the foreign minister,
that the diplomats demands for, measures
looking to the suppression of hrigandage. pun
ishment of guilty officials, reform OF the rail-
road police even employment OF forei gn ex-
pert assistance" fell In with action taken or
contemplated by the Chinese government. AS
to the prescription of punishment for certain
named officials, that, OF course. could not be
listened to, but those found guilty, after due
investigation, would be appropriately punished.
The diplomats were not magnanimous
enough to let the foreign minister get by with
such celestial piece of 'save-face. though
by every reason Of its unsatisfactorlness his
note should have tickled their vanity. Had they
not asserted it would be unsatisfactory. On
October 4, they unbosomed themselves again
in another note They reaffirmed the responsi-
bilty OF the Chinese government for the Lin
Ching episode. They demanded that the Chi
government" accept and execute the
program laid down in their former note: and
they mournfully averred that, contrary to the
foreign minister's assertions and assurances,
the Chinese government had done nothing, the
bandits remained at large. etc On this. it
might be remarked that the diplomats were
government, which their showing.
might be said not to exist.
But there's end TO this interesting,
but fantastic correspondence The other day a
quorum of parliament was pulled together
seems little doub) 1t was bribed TO do by
Tsao Kun 1t adopted new constitution, elect
lease Of life No doubt there win be a cabinet
in day two-completing sure-enouGh
government. qualified to render "satisfac-
tory" answer to the diplomats.
So "by ways that queer" that
old rascal Tsao Kun has arrived at last Ap-
parently he has nothing to recommend him ex-
cept a long purse swollen by squeeze" Bet
ter even Chang TSo Lin. who, though equally
a super bandit and master of squeeze. and
equally unscrupulous. is not without certain
elegance and charm of personality Tsao Kun
in a country governed for centuries BY litera-
1t is doubtful that Tsao Kun will last long
The manner of his election stnks. even in the
tbe latter has manifested from Mukden brief
" to that effect. sun Vat Sen has manifestoed