Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
A Continuing Danger.

Although the Americans at Marking
have been rescued, with the loss OF
one life, and the situation at that
point has been greatly relieved, it
does not follow that all menace to
our nationals in China has been re-
moved. There remain groups of
people in different parts of the coun-
try who may at any time find them
selves hemmed in by riotous mobs,
aroused by the fanatical outcries
against foreigners to murderous &C.
tivity. These people are in China
on legitimate business. Some are mis-
sionaries and educators, some are
commercial representatives. They feel
under obligation to stay at their posts
as long as possible. The representa-
tives of business especially are re-
Quired to hold their positions, to safe
guard valuable properties intrusted to
them. Warnings may be sounded by
the State Department that they leave
for the protection of the warships sta
toned on the coast or in the rivers,
and if they persist in staying after
ward they assume responsibility for
their own safety. Yet, even so, they
cannot be abandoned to their fate If
the tide of instruction and disorder
turns in their direction.
The situation in China is such that
at any time war may develop be-
tween factions in any section. The
Cantonese government is at present
ascendant, extending its area of au-
thority over wider area than hereto
fore and steadily advancing. But there
are organized forces still in being,
commanded by generals who do not
accept and who may never accept the
Cantonese authority and who repre-
sent a fundamental opposition to the
Southern republic. It is in the nature
of Chinese affairs that these COM
manders may shift ground, strike bar
gains with their opponents and maneu-
yer for advantage within the scope
of the Cantonese field. Or they may
ties to strike. Meanwhile, there are
hordes of irregulars, some of them
mere bandits with little experience
In organized military commands,
securing the country in search OF prey
and particularly alert to seize for
eigners.
These conditions warrant the TAX
Ing OF all possible precautions by this
Government to be prepared to act
effectively for the protection of such
Americans or American interests as
may still fall within the danger zone.
The ordering Of additional marines
and possibly Of infantry troops to
China is In the line of such precau-
tons. OF course, it is out of the
question to organize an offensive force
to enter China and occupy and hold
all places at which American interests
are in jeopardy. There is no thought
Of the starting of such an operation,
which would be an act of war calcu-
lated to cause the immediate union
of all Chinese factions and the start
Ing of intellectually evil conditions. The
strengthening of the American forces
in China is simply a means Of pre-
paredness against contingencies.
Much depends upon the outcome of
the next few days. If Chang Kai-
Shek, commander of the Cantonese
army, is sincerely DESTROYS of giving
full protection to foreign lives and
property in China, he can soon lessen
the need of the maintenance of large
relieving force of American and Brit
ish troops on the coast and in the
rivers. Unless his authority over his
troops has been weakened in the
course of the attack upon Shanghai he
can control the situation in the area
Of his occupation. Should his present
success, which has given him control
OF practically all of southeastern
China, have it's logical effect he will
steadily advance. And If he means
well. II he is sincerely DESTROYS OF
consolidating China and at the same
time avoiding a breach with the
Western powers, he can in all prob
ability avert a general conflict But
while doubt as to his intentions and
concerning his power to carry out his
promises remains, it is the part OF
wisdom for the powers to be prepared
for effective Intervention to safeguard
their rights and the lives and property
of their nationals.