Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-01
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.
-%OREIGN ministers nowadays never
II know when an international in

- know when an international in
cident may be precipitatad by an
4 outbreak OF students. 1t is
seldom that day passes in the
news reports that an eruption of stu
dents over political or other issues does
not confront statesmen with the neoes-
saty of making apologies or entering
into diplomatic negotiations.
In the Balkans. particularly in the
relations of italy and Jugoslavia,
student demonstrations have figured
Importantly. and it has not been long
since students rioted in protest at the
United States for one reason or an
other in South and Central America.
There is not a country IN Europe which
lis free from this factor. while IN the
Orient youth is playing the same role,
Frequently this youthful ebullience
has no significant consequences in the
peace of the world, but it is not for
gotten that a student type set the
World War in motion by the assassina-
ton of an Austrian archduke in what
Is now Jugoslavia in 1914.
Adult Influence Suspected.
The word student" no doubt covers
ary Young element engaged in dis
tx-banceS: nevertheless most, If not all,
such demonstrations abroad have bona
fAe students participating. Any enc
und,r 30 probably is rated in the stu
des1t class in cahled reports Of rioting.
The explanation of this phi ,nomenon
h not hard to in0. Youth means
acton. If youth secs what 1t believes
d wrong, youth will do something about
10 right of as distinguished from ma
as.ity's inclination to think or talk
e6out it first and act atterward. The
Japanese reduced this TO the maxim.
Old men for counsel: young men for
war"
The suspicion is fairly we'll justified
Ahat some student demonstrations are
NE result Of adult manipulation.
GcYnetirnes these demonstrations or
riots fit usefully into the plans of
"slder statesmen" in various countries.
Again, they greatly enlbarrass govern
R1ents seeking to preserve international
friendships.
1t is the easiest thing in the world
30 enlist youth il a cause. To youths
credit it must be said that generally an
appearance of patriotism or righteous
meas must be given TO the cause where
It does not innately possess that
attribute If youths allegiance is de-
sired. But giving an appearance or
Righteousness or patriotism 10 a cause
q no tax on the ingenuity Of adult
ee4-seekers or plotters, SO that youth
IN the United States students lack
mtarly all of the issues which stir youth
many other lands. yet American
gbuth will flare up quickly II given a
motive. There is no problem OF ma
tfcnsNsm here: we removed that In l77S.
No other outstanding political oppres-
son makes youth revolt in America.
They 'slet of steam" occasionally after
same athletic victory with rowdyism
that requires police suppression and re-
suits in few bruised heads and de-
Etroyed property. But aflti-foreign DEM
onstrations usually are lacking, except
occasionally under inspiration of ele-
ments registering here animositiss
brought over from the Old World
Bait of Liberalism"
Where American students likely are
60 be shared is in so-calied demenstra-
TONS in behalf of liberalism During
the Sacco- Vanzetti excitement many
youths lined up against the courts
without knowing clearly what it was all
about, save that they had been told
that on one side they would be lid
erals" and liberalism appeals to youth.
In other nations this was more en-
phaticaily true, for thousands OF stu
dents paraded or threw stones at Ameri-
can embassies and consulates without
precise knowledge of the celebrated case
They simply had been aroused by clever
adults who said the cause OF justice or
liberalism was under attack in the
Dated States. More often Communist
aslEators induced students 10 turn their
ENndStoneS by making a rallytng issue
Of the American verdict, and some youth
abroad ranged itself on the side of the
victims of capitaliStic vengeance"
If the Chinese civil war is examined,
the degree In which youth or students
can be manipulated Is strikingly empha-
sized. Young Chinese undeniably are
politically minded, and SO ripe for en-
hssmenI in a nationalistic campaign.
However, It is still true in China that
nntl1ing goes on without permission
from above" Any one defying higher
orders, whether youth or adult. loses his
head with certitude and promptitude
that discourage independent action.
All through the present nationalistic
excitement In China students have been
much to the fore. Russian advisers re-
Led largely upon them for the eyhibi-
ttens which were heraided TO the world
IN 1926-27 as the voice of new China.
Quite young boys and girls would parade
or hold mass meetings, shouting slogans
about imperialism" and unequal
treaties" which they generally did not
understand in the slightest. except that
d was against the foreign devils"
In Canton mass meetings would adopt
resolutions at one time extolling Com
Saunism to the skies and at another
time denouncing 1t as sweepingly, ac-
cording as the higher-ups dictated The
bloody reaction against the Russians in
December. 1927. was a complete re-
Tergal of feeling toward them during
three years previously. Young Chinese
Or students played the part assigned to
them In all these variations with equal