Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-15
Chen Replies to the Powers.


In replying to the identic notes of
the five powers regarding the Nan
king outrage. Eugene Chen, the for
eign minister of the Cantonese gov
eminent, adopts the familiar Chinese
policy of saving the face" 1t agrees
TO make reparation for all damage
done to the American consulate at
Marking, whether or not such damage
was caused by Northern rebels" or
others. But it qualities its reply in
regard 10 the personal injuries to
American nationals and the material
damages done outside of the consulate,
for which it refuses 10 be held ac-
countable If it can be proved that they
were caused by the British and Amer
lean naval bombardment or by North
ern rebels as agents provocateurs." 1t
proposes an international inquiry, to
be instituted Immediately by the
United States and the Nationalist
government. A similar reply, save as
to the consulate, is addressed to Great
Britain. To the other powers-except
that France is held accountable with
Great Britain in the matter of the
bombardment of the ''shameen," or
foreign settlement at Canton-the re-
ply is distinctly conciliatory.
Taking advantage of the exchange
OF notes on the Marking affair. the
Cantonese government declares that
the best guarantee for the effective
protection of foreign lives and prop
erty lies in the removal of the funda-
mental cause of the present trouble
between Nationalist China and the
powers" the unequal treaties, which
constitute the chief danger, that will
remain as long as effective govern
ment is rendered difficult by foreign
insistence upon conditions which force
humiliation and menace" upon China
Complaint cannot be entered to the
terms of Chen's reply. 1t is shrewdly
calculated to preserve the prestige of
the Cantonese government on the
score OF the protest against the "un-
equal treaties 1t frankly ayows re-
sponsibility and willingness to atone
for the attack upon the American con-
sulate. It seeks reference to an inter
national commission of the question of
the naval bombardment and the par
ticipation of Nationalist troops in the
outrages upon the persons and prop
erty of foreign nationals.
From the American point Of view
the naval bombardment at Marking
was not only justified, but was re-
auired by the circumstances. 1t Is I'M
mistakable that the use of force there
by the American and British govern
ments was the only means Of prevent
ing a massacre. The Cantonese gov
eminent was either powerless or I'M
willing to safeguard the lives Of the
foreigners who were besieged at Nan
king. 1t is asserted that in the attack
ing mobs were troops of the Cantonese
army. If true, that fact can be estab-
lished, and perhaps the best way to
establish it is through an interna'
tional inquiry, unless the United
States and British governments have
irrefutable proof already.
But an international inquiry would
not assuredly lead to results. Chinese
conditions are in a state of hux. Au'
thority does not rest assuredly upon
the Cantonese government. Just at
this hour there is much mystery re
zarding the trend Of events. Hostili
ties along the Yangtze have slackened
and there are reports of mediation and
negotiations between the Southerners
end the Northerners, while looting
end rasding continue in the zone OF
conflict The suspicion grows that an
other Of the occasional mergers" is
about to be effected, with the result OF
a cloaking of responsibility. In these
circumstances the proposal by Cher
for an inquiry may reasonably be re
garded as a move to gain time, with
the view to possible evasion of even
tuaI accounting.
Young men with a hip flask on on