Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-25
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS

The Department of State is under
investigation. It's secretary, Mr.. Frank
B. Kellogg, Is put under cross.exanli-
nation and required to answer cate
gorically as to the authority by which
he dares sanction the sending of two
United States war vessels into Chi
nese waters, under pretense of pro.
tecting American interests.
Already Americans have been kill
ed and considerable property of Ameri-
can merchants and missionaries is in
jeopardy, but the professor of Chris
tian ethics, DR.. Harry F. Ward of the
Union Theological Seminary, lin
quires to know" the exact treaty.
clause and paragraph by which the
Government of the United States un.
dertakes to invade Chinese waters.
Behind the inquirer stands the $50
ciety for Justice to China"
X X X X
Inquiry as to the record and affilia-
tons of the insistent investigator Of
| the State Department brings the re-
port of responsible authorities that DR..
v
| in Russia, studying Russian methods
and ideals, after which he visited
China and there made numerous ad-
dresses-through an interpreter-ad.
vising the distracted Chinese to copy
Russia and be as happy as the Soviets.
DR.. Ward is active in his affilia-
tions with the Chinese in the United
States, and he charges American
dereliction of duty as 1t appears to
his Chinese associates. This alleged
American injustice arouses the ire
of the Society for Justice to China"
the house that is divided against
itself. Besides, it is said that DR..
Ward does not believe in navies or
armies and is opposed to war. Hence
Secretary Kellogg will face "tn prin-
ciple" a real opponent in the pro-
lessor Of Christian ethics, unless he
| withdraws protection from our mis-
sionarieS and merchants.
X X x*
While the Department Of State has
not yet answered the demand, there
are certain fundamental treaties
which are. pointed out, although the
Government has never attempted to
follow up all our rights" under the
most favored nation" clause of. the
treaty of 1858, for those rights"
would enable us to protect American
| importation of opium into China
under our Government sanction, IN
accord with the Anglo-China treaty
| of 1S43.
In 1885. Warren Hastings. Yiceroy
| to India, enunciated the basis of
England's attitude on the opium
trade as follows:
Opium is not a necessity OF LIE,
| but a pernicious article of luxury,
which ought not to be permitted ex-
! cept for purposes of foreign COM
merce only. and which the wisdom OF
| the government should carefully re.
strain from internal consumption
The wisdom of the government OF
| England fought and won the opium
| war in 1S43. and gained the treaty
right to force opium onto China, and,
as the French government in 1874
secured a still broader treaty, we
| have had, since 1858, the full benefit
| thereof, under our general rights to
enjoy every privilege accorded to
the most favored nation"
Our treaty Of 1858. article 30, pro.
vides:
THE contracting parties hereby
agree that should at any time the Ia
Using Empire grant to any nation, or
the merchants or citizens of any ma.
ton, any right, privilege or favor,
connected either with navigation.
commerce, political or other inter.
course, which Is not conferred by this
| treaty, such right, privilege and ia.
| vor shall at once freely inure to the
| benefit of the United States, its pub.
lie officers, merchants and citizens"
In our treaty of 1914. made imme
| diately following the English victory
in the opium war, article 80 provided
and it is still in force-as follows
| Citizens of the United States who
| Shall attempt to trade clandestinely
with such OF the ports OF China as