Evening star., 1928-12-25
CHINA RECOGNITION
CALLED i. S. COUP.
Diplomatic Action Interpret
ed as Obstacle to Anglo
Japanese Alliance.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

American diplomacy scores victory
at the turn of the year which goes far
toward ccmpensating the Coolidge ad-
ministration for non-ratification of the
Kellogg treaty before Christmas. The
United States bold initiative, several
months ago, in according recognition
to Nationalist China has just been fol-
lowed by Great Britain. The London
governments action is highly significant
from another important standpoint.
II was taken without regard to Japan
and thereby destroys the likelihood of
a new Anglo-Japanese alliance in the
Far East. For several months past
there have been indications that the
British and the Japanese were consid-
ering the feasibility of renewing, in
some form or other, the close relation
ship which united them from 1902 to
1922. One of the primary objects of
the Washington conference of 1922
was to bring about the annulment of
the former Anglo-Japanese alliance.
1t was terminated mainly on the de-
mand of the United States.
When Secretary Kellogg last Summer
startled the international universe by
announcing that America had conclud-
ed tariff treaty with the new Nation
alist Government of China, the United
States was accused of violating the
spirit of the Washington conference
treaties. providing for Joint action in
China among the powers 1t was freely
predicted that the result of the Cool
ldge administration initiative would
be some kind Of concerted action among
the other powers, which were not yet
prepared to shake hands with the Nam
King authorities. Count Uchida, the
Japanese statesman who was sent to
Paris to sign the anti-war treaty on
IoKyoS Dehalf, had series of confer
ences with the British government in
London Ever since then the report
has persisted that Great Britain and
Japan were in agreement to withhold
recognition of the new China until GER
tain far-reaching concessions had been
made by Marking.
BRUSH Follow America.
Great Britain has apparently de-
cided, as the United States did six
months ago, to face the facts in China
and make the best of them. The de-
ciSion was difficult one for the Bald
win government to make, because the
Chinese Nationalists stigmatized the
British authorities and the numerous
British commercial groups in Chinese
trading centers like Shanghai and Han
kow as the archconspirators against the
new masters of China British goods
were boycotted, and individual Britons
were attacked and their properties
looted.
London has tardily come to the con-
ciuSion that the Nationalists are in
invincible control of China and that
nothing is to be gained by any further
refusal to deal with them. Although
ofnclal confirmation is not yet forth
coming. Sir Miles Lampson, the British
Minister to China, is circumstantially
reported to be on the verge of signing
treaty granting the Marking govern
ment the same. tariff autonomy acknowl-
edged by the American treaty signed
by John V. A. MacMurray, the United
States Minister. Nationalist China now
stands before the world fully recognized
as an equal among the nations by the
two great English-speaking powers.
Japan Stranded in China.
Washington diplomatiSts declare that
Japan Is left more or less stranded In
emma by the common action of the
United States and Great Britain. It
leaves the Toxic government the one
important factor in Far Eastern affairs
which has not yet signalized the full
nedged sovereignty of China.
The Japanese still hold fast to their
contention that Nationalist China il
legally abrogated the Sino-Japanese
commercial treaty with its implied
special interests" of Japan. Toxic also
maintains its exclusive rights and
sphere OF influence" privileges in Man
churia. What the Americans and the
British have done is to say that there is
practically a new deal in China and
that China has recovered all along the
line the mastery of her own house
To impose the demands set up by the
japanese would conceivably bring Japan
INTO conflict with the United States and
Great Britain.
Toxic statesmen are still engaged in
trying to come to terms with Nanking
There is a considerable party in japan
which favors the same sort of liberal
policy toward China as that with which
the United States and Great Britain
have now identified themselves. One of
Japan's Official spokesmen explains to
this writer that his governments re-
iuctance to recognize Nationalist China
Is the fear that it Is not yet firmly es-
tablished. The lack of an outstandingly
strong man is felt in Toxic to be the
chief danger in the situation.
tCopyright. l928)
CHRISTMAS CpEETIMcc