Evening star., 1927-03-31
Urges Care i'm China.
Orient Visitor Wants u. s. to
Use Intelligent Measures.


To the Editor of The Star:
I have been in China four times.
but do not assume by reason thereof
to speak ex cathedra regarding the
present situation In that country.
But nevertheless / would like to offer
through your columns some sugges-
tions for what they may be worth
as to what should be the attitude ana
action of the United States in the
present situation.
1t manifestly behooves our Govern
ment to act with intelligent care and
great caution in the present emer'
gency. We have nothing to gain oy
belligerent action and an inconsld-
crate attitude toward the funda-
mental causes of the great social and
political upheaval now going on In
China. On the contrary. we might
lose much in our relations with the
Chinese. after the present conditions
shall have subSided and orderly gov
ernment emerges from the existing
strife and disorder, as it surely Will In
time.
We have no concessions in emma.
Our relations with her people nave
been those of traditional friendship.
The Chinese are fully aware of this
fact and trust us more than they
do any other nation. All that We
have insisted upon is the open door,
which means simply equality OF trace
and opportunity with all o'her
nations.
This cannot be said of other Occi-
dental nations or of Japan Iney
have acquired by coercion and other
questionable means Chinese terri,
tory, spheres Of influence. preferential
rights Of sundry kinds and controi
of her customs, to the detrlment Oh
China in many ways that the tnlhese
should not and will not much longer
tolerate.
If we are not careful and wel IN
formed, there is great danger OF our
being drawn into acts of hostihtE
against the Chinese by these powers
ard made a catspaw to protect ana
draw their chestnuts from the nfeS
of internecine strife now raging In
China-particularly by Great Britain,
whose interests are very large, not
only in China but throughout the
Orient, who will try to use US by pia
ing upon our vanity and appealins 10
us on the grounds of Anglo-Amerlcan
friendship, racial unity, community OF
interests, etc.
We should, of course, take what
ever action found necessary to pro-
tect and evacuate our citizens III
China. but in so doing make 1t clear
that our action will be limited 10
these objects, and to the protection
of their property from bandits ana All
others where it is manifest tnat ehe
Chinese comma nders are unaoie or
are unwilling to afford protection. 10
this end It may be that cooperation
with other powers will be found un-
avoidable, but II so. 1t should De maue
plain to the Chinese that this VIII o De
the sole purpose and limit OF our NH, mn.
tary activities. Beyond this we snouio'
in NV Judgment, leave the Chinese
alone to settle their own differences
and those with other powers. ana 10
work out their own problems ana
political aspirations.
In so far as the property OF Amefl-
cans in China is concerned. L am CON
fident from my knowledge OF them
that when orderly government snaii
have been established among them. as
it will be eventually they VIII make
compensation for all losses Americans
may have sustained.
40 not believe the Soviets have
had as much to do with the present
disturbed conditions in China as they
claim and as many of our own people
are disposed to attribute to them.
The spirit OF nationalism and self
det ern1ination was alive and growing
in China long before the Boisheviks
were ever heard of. and Is prooapiv
due in great measure to the work Oh
o,,r missionaries In China and the
contact OF Chinese students in our
universities with our institutions and
political philosophy. The Bolsheviks
have undoubtedly added all the fuel
they could to the confiagration ana
disorder prevailing, and 1t Is not uh-
likely they have been used by the
Chinese to aid in the accomplishment
of certain immediate purposes, but
when they have served the purposes
of the Chinese they will be cnased
out bag and baggage, for there are no
people on earth as individuahstc ana
conservative as the Chinese.
In the present situation there is un-
ouestionably a conflict of personal am
bitions among the leaders of the sew
eral armies as to who shall c0ntr0l
and rule the China that Is to be, and
there are also seemingly irrecOnc1iaoie
differences between North and South
China. The former Is ultra conserva.
tive, wishing to preserve the old order
and to dominate the whole country.
whereas the latter is progressive and
modern in its ideas and purposes, and
wishes to rid China Of foreign domina-
ton and establish a government more
representative of the people and more
responsive to their needs. But, what
ever may be the cause Of the factional
differences and antagonisms between
the cOntending elements among the
Chinese, there exists both North and
South an undercurrent Of national
unity and q determination and agree
meft to throw off the yoke OF foreign
domination and to govern themselves
and manage their own affairs The
force of this current Is irresistible.
It's flow toward it's ultimate goal may
he slow and tortuous, but can never
be damned or turned back, and the
sooner the Occidental nations recog-
nize this fact. reconcile themselves To
II and govern themselves accordingly,
the better 1t will be for all concerned.
The Chinese are wonderful people;
and to one acquainted with their his
tory 1t is marvellous how they have
preserved, through thOusa nds of years
and the vicissitudes to which all peo
pie are subject. their racial integrity,
yirility and hegemony. They are a
very likable people, and have many
ethical standards that by comparison
put to shame many representatives
or our Christian civilization. They are
unusually intelligent and capable, and
will in time undoubtedly work out n
stable government that will be just
in it's international relations and make
acceptable contributions to the gen
eral welfare and advancement of the
human race.