Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-12-02
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Leader of the Cantonese
Armies Issues a Bold
Defiance to World.
BY E. w PlcKARD

THERE is to be no peace in China
L until the foreign powers abandon
their extraterritoriality rights and
concessions and the unequal treaties"
have been abolished
! Such is the bold assertion Of Gen.
Chang Kai-shek, the young leader of
| the Cantonese armies that have been
sweeping upward from the south along
the Yangtsyriver toward Shanghai. In
his declaration, which Is virtually a
defiance Of the great powers. he says:
"Conquering of the northern mill
tarists Is but step in the revolution
airy army program. We must instant
ly remove extraterritorial foreign con-
cesslons, put an end to the foreign SUI.
pervision of customs, and to the for
eign post offices.
I'VE positively will not agree to the
gradual abolition of extraterritoriality
over period Of years or await re-
adjustment of China's law courts, but
we must abolish before the revolution
ends foreign judicial jurisdiction.
"This revolution purposes the down
fall of imperialism, not as 1t is con-
fined to China alone, but our opposi-
ton to 1t must spread to other cOun-
tries under imperialist yoke.
"Denunciation of the Belgium treaty
by Wellington Koo, minister of finance
in the Picking government, meets our
approval. We are willing now to en-
ter into treaties with the powers on
an absolutely equal basis, considering
at present no treaties exist as all are
unequal.
"Within this month we will Lave es-
tablished the capital Of China at WI
chang, removing the government bu-
reaus there from Canton. China will
have committee form Of government
"Our attitude toward America is
friendly, but we consider America an
imperialist because she has not given
the Philippines freedom. Any country
holding territory outside its natural
boundaries has an imperialist nature
and must relinquish claims to such
territory"
This may sound like bombast, but 1t
must be remembered that Chang is
generalissimo of huge army with
unknown resources, that his cam
paigns have been remarkably success
full, that he has the advice of Russian
military experts and presumably the
promise of backing by the Russian
soviet government. The day after his
defiance was made public dispatches
from China said that General Yang
sen, former ally Of WI Pei-fu Of Pc
king, who controls the western portion
of Hupeh province and the eastern
part of Szechwan province, definitely
had gone over to the Cantonese. He
has $4,000 troops. including $4,000
around Shansi province, near which
fighting has been reported. General
wan to the Cantonese, also clearing
the TANKS and giving freedom Of ac-
ton against Marshal WI Pei-fu's
forces in Honan province.
It Is asserted in Washington that
the United States and II powers are
soon to make the announcement that
they cannot abandon their nationals
in China. to the mercy of the Chinese
courts Of law until order is restored
there and the dispensation of justice
is assured This decision is based on
the facts uncovered by the interna-
tional commission headed by Silas Fl.
Strawn. The report has not yet been
given to the public, but it is known to
give accounts Of the travesties on jus
tice perpetrated upon foreigners with
in the last two years under the regime
of the war lords Of China, each of
whom In the territory he rules has con-
stituted himself judge, jury and high
executioner.
yxIHEN the State department at
wv Washington gave out the recent
| correspondence with Mexico City in
the controversy over the Oil and land
laws it was revealed that Secretary
Kellogg in his last note served plain
notice on the Gales government that
! confiscation Of American property I'M
dax taosA laws. which 90 into effect on