Evening star., 1928-06-17

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|, The Soviet has been fully aware OF
the ground lost by Russia since the
drubbing by Japan in 1905 and In 1923
the Soviet conceived the policy OF siding
! with the southern Nationalist faction In
the Chinese civil war as way to pro-
mote Russia's interests If the National
lists should eventually control China.
The Russians had been unable TO In
fiuence the Manchurian dictator, Chang
Tso-lin and so turned to the southern
Chinese. The Soviet assumption was
that If they had friends in Peking they
could work against Japan and the other
powers.
Chinese Suspect Russia.
This Soviet policy was highly success
full until the Summer of 1927. But 1t
had begun to dawn upon many Chinese
that the Soviet was working zealously
to communize China upon the theory
that a communistic China would 60
right along with Moscow. Now COM
munism was playing havoc with the
most cherished and most ancient GUS
toms and ideals of China and conserva-
tive Chinese revolted. In the end the
Russians were driven out and the Ma
tionalists have Won Peking without di-
rect Russian aid, although one of the
Nationalist leaders. Feng HUI -Hsiang, is
still credited with being friendly to
Russia.
The Nationalists have entered ac-
lively into the Manchurian struggle by
claiming it absolutely for China The
attempt to kill Chang Tso-lin by bomb
ing his train, which later resulted In
his death, fitted in with this National
ist aim, without, however, charging
Nationalist officialdom with responsible
ity for the attempt. The dictator s
death intensifies the struggle for the
province.
| The position of the United States
continues to be for the open door, It
is to the credit of Japan that American
traders have had complete equality of
opportunity In Manchuria and have
not been Disseminated against on the
railroads controlled by Japan there.
So. practically. the United States has
| profited by the peace and order Japan
has maintained In Manchuria, whereas
our trade has fallen of in war-torn
China. Diplomatically. however. the
United States stands for the integrity
/ Of Chinese territory, including Man.
| churia.
What the future holds for Man
churia cannot be foretold Japan has
already fought two wars over 1.-THE
one with China in 1894 and the one
with Russia In 1904. The colonizing
Of japanese in Manchuria has. not
been as extensive as 1t was believed
would be likely two decades ago. But
Manchuria has fulfilled Japan's expec-
tationS as a food reservoir and In
mining possibilities. while the South
Manchurian railroads have been highly
profitable. The Japanese investment
in Manchuria probably exceeds $500
000, 900, private and governmental.
Nationalist China undoubtedly viii
This will bring negotiations, and pos
sibIe clashes, with both Japan and Rus
sia. Japan keeps troops In Manchuria
TO guard her railroad and other in
terests and win not withdraw them,
from present indications, until Nation
alist China gives adequate assurance Of
being able TO preserve order and pro-
tect property That was the gist Of the
japanese warning that 1t would not al
low the civil war to invade Manchuria.
II Nationalist China succeeds In re-
ducing both japanese and Russian
claims In Manchuria TO simple property
rights, without political or military priv
ileges, it win be an immense diplomatic
victory for China after centuries Of con-
slant retreating before aggression. Ja-
pan In 1915 obtained from China an ex-
tension Of the lease on Dairen for
total Of 80 years from the time the port
was taken over from Russia after the
1905 victory.
Ownership Of Railroads.
As for the railroads I'm Manchuria,
the Chinese Eastern, built by Russia,
has l,073 miles Of main line and SCI
in branches and station lines 1t was
opened TO trafac In 1908 and was the
Russian gauge Of S feet. II branches
down from Hardin TO Changchun, i49
miles, with the same gauge, and there
the japanese South Manchurian line
begins with the standard gauge of
feet az inches Hence all freight and
passenger traffic must be transferred
from Russian TO japanese cars at
Changchun, or vice versa.
The South Manchurian line runs 43S
miles down 10 Dairen, There are
branches that bring the total mileage
OF the South Marchurian system TO
about TOO miles. The Japanese have
another line running from Mukdcn down
through Korea 10 the port Of Fusan,
where steamers connect across 10 Japan,
few hours ride.
The Chinese government line runs
| from Mukden through TientSin 10 Pc
king. a distance OF SIS miles. Passen-
gers can board train anywhere In
Europe and proceed TO Moscow and
! then through Russia TO Siberia and
through Siberia 10 Harbin and thence
, down TO Peking, and even on 10 shang-
| tai, by ferrying across the Yangtze
Itises at Nanking. Lately the Russians
| nave been running two traips a week
| across Siberia. 1t takes about IL days
| from Moscow 10 Peking.
U.kaSsa. 49, A.
The Chinese are causing some fric-
| tiOp with Japan by building new lines
in Manciuria that compete with the
South Manchurian system, In violation
of treaties, according TO the japanese
| This is another issue To be adjusted,
! A good deal Of real estate exploitation
| BY the Chinese has accompanied their
railroad building, with big profits by
I promoters Manchuria has S. 900 900
| acres of arabic land with only about
/ III 900 900 acres under cultivation. 80
! the heavy influx of Chinese In recent
| years stiil leaves roam for development
This immigration has changed the
| political complexion of Aanchurfa, en-
| abIing the Chinese 10 0utnumber the
| original race and this is working 10 the
advantage of the HationaIistA. They
VIII be able W dominate Manchufia by
The excess of Chinese over Mancbu-
rians The population now is approxi-
fHateIy ~ 900 900. fstaFyation In Shan
lung province in China has caused mil
,lonk .of that province 10 enigrate 10
MascfuFia.
II ~ h big prize the three nations are
PLAYING for In Mancburta and the re-
glaindeT oT ttle world ~ hoping. and
ehertipg pressure, for a peaceful soiu-
ton, Just " all concerned.
1 raa-sr-a~srssrsr4 e-#
Demand for Liquid Oxygen.
! The demand for liquid oxygen since
Uss first made In this country In
1907 has grown enormously, and there
NOW In ILne IIEaiisd E4aalaa Ika x.4tl.