Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-31
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

zone where Japan has vested interests.
The national flag of japan
has been trampled upon and japanese
residents have met the utmost hun1ilia-
ton. I do not understand the indif-
ferent attitude the authorities take to-
ward this.
I'm the face of this fact the authori-
ties continue to advocate policies of non
Intervention. The disturb
ances in China have gone beyond the
limit of mere domestic disputes: they
endanger the Far East and threaten to
affect the peace of the world.
necessary. In taking an effective step In
cooperation with the powers. We be-
lieve this will be inevitable"
Through Tanaka's opposition Shide-
haras friendly policy" was ilscredited
and Tanaka succeeded TO the premier
ship. whereup>.i he assumed not only
the portfolios of premier and minister
OF foreign relations, but also minister
OF war. He adopted what is known as
the positive policy" as substitute for
the friendly policy" He has no In
tention of annexing N.anchuris. but II
may be necessary to protect" ID from
the Bolsheviki with strong Japanese
force,
In this policy he is not supported by
all Japan. but he is in power and NAV
bring mischief before he is overcome
with saner influences. Prior to the VIC
tory of the Chinese Nationalist the
Japanese leading newspapers opened
hroadsides of criticisms of the Tanska
aggressive policies
The Toxic Nichinichi. for example.
declared that there was no need to
protect our residents in Tsinan. On
the other hand, there is no doubt that
We have lost much by the nisunder-
standing We have aroused" The Jill
stated that eff the unsettled conditions
Of Tsinan continue. the government
should withdraw both residents and
troops"
Manchuria Is an immense province,
equivalent In extent to all OF California,
Washington. Oregon and Utah COM
bined-365 900 square mileS-and con-
tains a population OF 25,000,00o Chi
nese and Manchus. besides 500, 900
Koreans, 10000 Russians and 10000
japanese. Under pretense of protect~
ing that handful of japanese, Tanaka
would put armed forces into Manchuria
over the 100000 Chinese and Koa
reans and Russians.
Manchuria is a buffer state for Char
between both Japan and Russia. ShA
cannot surrender It's sovereignty with>
out losing face" which means 50 much
in the Orient. To Japan. Manchuria
Is important because it supplies much
raw material for Japanese industries.
To Russia. Manchuria Is CONNECTING
link between Moscow and Vladivostok.
giving possible ice-free port In the
East. Manchuria has long been q bone
OF contention between Russia and ia
pan, and railroad construction has been
the special point of the quarrel.
81
What threatens to bring the Sitia-
ton TO an acute point immediately Is
the termination by limitation OF MI
treaties between China and japan.
whereupon China has notified Japan
that hereafter Japanese in China viii
be treated only under Chinese laws.
extraterritoriality to be abolished. that
threat may be a warning to the rest of
the world also that China will now de-
mand the adjustment of all unequal
treaties" and will govern all persons in
China directly by Chinese laws and
through Chinese COURTS position
fraught with many possibilities of oppo-
sition by the Western world.
iConyright t9"s hv Paul v. collinsl