Evening star., 1927-05-16


the Kuomintang center wing and
former premier at Peking, ''leaves the
Chinese Nationalist movement free to
work out it's own salvation. We now
can concentrate on purging disturbing
elements and can continue our efforts
to stamp out militarism and restore
civil authority.
American Handiwork Seen.
"The refusal of the powers to per.
NIT foreign interest to become in
trenched and old treaties to dictate
their policy heartens us and gives us
breathing time. The Chinese recog-
nize the handiwork Of America in this
outcome, but are glad other impor-
tant powers also recognize the futility
of efforts to coerce our revolution"
Contrarily, the prevailing sentiment
among foreigners here regards the
failure of the powers to follow up the
Marking incident with strong action,
and the effect Of the refusal of Brit.
ain to act singly, as likely to make
the Chinese more cocky and trucu-
lent in their demeanor toward for
eigners.
Late events make 1t more difficult
to maintain the attitude that the sit
uation in Shanghai is perilous. Local
officials are finding it harder to resist
the feeling among the residents that
extreme measures of caution no
longer are necessary. A slight conces-
sion was made this week in the aboli-
ton Of the curfew, but people want
the barbed-wire barricades inside the
international settlement removed from
the way Of traffic. This is done per-
haps because the foreign die-hards
must realize that the barbed-wire ges-
ture no longer impresses the home
governments Of the danger Of the sit
uation.,
Both Chinese and foreign moderates
are hopeful of clearing the air OF
prospect of military Intervention, and
of opening the way to friendly dis
cussion of the revision of treaties and
of reshaping the Government in
Shanghai's foreign concessions to re-
place the irresponsible oligarchy work
ing through the Municipal Council
Several prominent foreigners wrote in.
the newspapers suggesting confer
ences between the local consular body
and the Chinese committee which has
been waiting three months to take up
these questions.
Such proposals are strongly op-
.Josed by standpat elements of lead
ing British newspaper as expressed
through its editorials. .We must ex-
press total disagreement with this
suggestion that because the Com
munists are scotched and the local
situation Is calmer the Chinese and
foreigners might meet to discuss
treaty revision and ultimate return of
the settlement" an editorial stated.
The editor continued with familiar
arguments, pointing out the disturbed
state of China, the uncertainty of
coming events and the lack of stable
government, arguing that reform of
the foreign status must await stabii.
ity.
On the other hand, C. c. Wu, who
has taken over the Office Of foreign
minister in the new Marking regime,
has come out with a statement of
policy which declares that the Ma
tionalist party's ardor for treaty re-
vision is undated. He has expressed
hope that the powers will not await
the return Of actual national stability.
but will help restore order and remove
the cause Of anti-foreignism by pro-
ceeding with revision locally.
Seek Similar Shanghai Action.
AS this is exactly what the Brit
ish government did at Hankow and
Kiukiang. and seems to be prepar-
ing to do at Tientsin, the Chinese
NatioEalists see no reason why other