Evening star., 1928-05-10
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY P4LI. +. COLLINS.

Japan Is sending some 10000 more
troops into China. and within the last
few hours battle has ragged between the
Chinese Nationalists and the Japanese
yet China and Japan are not at war.
The Japanese are simply protecting
their own nationals. who are reported 10
be in Imminent danger from the lootine
and badly disciplined Nationalist revo-
lutionists marching toward Tsinan.
In Tsinan there are 500 japanese
nationals engaged In business. In tia
entirs province there are 10000 Japa :
nese. The japanese have evacuated
their nationals from all southern China.
but II would he impossible to carry
them out OF Tsinan and the Province OF
Shantung without running their busi-
nesses Instead. the Japanese are de-
termined to protect their people. even
with military defense They announce.
however that the troops will be with
drawn from China as soon a. orderly
government is established. The situa-
ton "a similar TO the condition OF the
United States In protecting our en-
bassy and nationals In Peking and sur"
rounding country.
In ali OF China there are $4,000 for
eianers. OF whom 1885, 900 are japanese
japanese commerce with China IN the
leading foreign trade. IL IN more d's"
t,Irbed, therefore, than that of all other
nations combined. Yet, In spite of the
disorder and destruction. due to the
struggle Of the contending forces OF
Chinese and the total absence oil rec
ocnized Chinese government. Japan re-
trains from Intervention. There Is no
war at present, Notwithstanding killing
on both sides.
In 1917, Japan was recognized by the
Lansing Ishii treaty as holding para.
mount interest In China and the rest
Of the Far East. In spite OF Russia
holdings, In Siberia. Of greater area
than all Of Japans.
Yet the powers of the world have had
occasion 10 restrain Japan. against neI
attempt 10 overreAch China, following
| the World war. Long before the war
Japan had begun her encToachments
upon the independence OF China, dating
| from lagS~~Ahortly after the Sino-
japanese war In which Japan tri-
umphed
The treaty ending that war In 1895
gave 10 Japan all OF the island ni
| Forniosa, the pescAdorea Islands and
the Peninsula of Liaotung, together
| with the right IN hold Waiheiwei "A
surety that China would fuifill the rest
Of the peace treaty The powers forced
her 10 reiinquish the Liaotung Penin-
aile. but In 1910, as a result Of the
| Japanese Russian war. Japan gained
| Port Arthur and Dairen, and forcibly
| annexed Rorea and AlsO invaded ana
held the Russian territory OF Upper
! eakhaiin Island.
Five years later, taking advantage oi
! the fact that Europe was absorbed IN
Its World War, japan became dictatoriAl
| 10 China. and made III audaci0us de-
mands. covering special rights In Man
| nhuria and also asserting that Japan
! should have "l0int control" with China
| NJ all police In China, together with
| the agreement that China must employ
/ many japanese upon her police forces
/ All mines In certain district were t0
| belong 10 japan and China was 10 bind
| herself never IN eede In any other
power any ports, hArh0rs or islands
China was forced 10 sian these demands
/ In May, 1918.
Then Japan. In the World war
seized the Tsinan- -TsinatAo Railway
which had been built by Germany, and
| German mines tributary 10 the rail.
| way we're also taken by Japan. Theaf
holdings were used A. Japan's justin
cation tor sending occupying troops into
the seized territory, 80 that, nj the time
Of the Disarmament Conference IL
Washington, In 1921, Japan held oil
Russian rights IN Manehufia and I'll
German rights In shantung, and hs
reason Of her proximity and military
power she hAld these rights more
strnnsly than either Russia or Germany
had ever held them,
The disarmament conference, laal
ulted nnt only IN Iapsns aiensturs
10 ths nspt agreement but also 10 hel