Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-19
Desire of u. S. to Aid China
Emphasized in Naming johnson

The Nationalist government mas re-
iterated It's intention to abolish the
consular courts on January l, regard
less Of treaty rights, II an agreement
has not been reached before then.
England and other interested powers
have given the same general reply to
China that the United States gave, and
London dispatches recently stated that
negotiations to end extraterritoriality
would begin between British and Chi
nese representatives shortly.
There is manifestly no desire among
the powers to retain special privileges
in China one moment beyond the time
that China has such grip upon the
civil functions as will assure foreigners
safety Of life and property. Japan went
through the same period and won fuil
sovereignty by providing police, courts,
sanitation and other facilities for for
eignerS satisfactory as substitutes Tor
the facilities which foreigners had pro-
Vided for themselves under extraterrt-
torial treaties.
Americans attending the Institute of
Pacific Relations, just adjourned In
Kioto, Japan, were active, unofncially
in advancing q scheme whereby China
would regain virtual sovereignty in this
respect while holding out for foreigners
in China q hope of equitable judicial
processes. While this transitional plan
has not been approved by China, it is
one way out of the dispute, and 1t was
noted chat the Chinese delegates,
though inSistent upon China'S claims,
were moderate in their debates. The
good will at the conference was such
that it was voted to hold the next seS-
sion in China in 1881.
Mr.. johnson may be raised to the
rank of Ambassador while in China.
The desire of China to be rated of
ambassadorial rank Is known, but so far
only Soviet Russia has given that rec
ignition, and since relations between
the Soviet and China now are ruptured
over the Manchurian railroad dispute
there is no Ambassador In China. Rep
resentative Dyer of Missouri has intro
duced a bill in Congress to raise the
legation to an embassy.
Mr.. johnson also may see the lega-
ton moved from Peiping to Marking.
The Nationalist government finds it UNI
satisfactory for the powers to retain
their chief ENJOYS in Peiping. If the
rebels win in the civil war, there have
been intimations that they will move
the capital back to Peiping, so that this
question Is not pressing one for the
moment.
The United States has extensive
grounds and buildings In the legation
quarter at Peiping. Removal to Nam
king would neceSSitate considerable
outlay for new ministerial or ambas-
sadorial establishment. This is not
likely to be done, therefore, until there
is fair assurance of the permanence OF
Marking as the capital. In one respect
Marking is preferable. It is on river
navigable by large ships, and Americans
endangered there could be more readily
rescued than from Peiping, which Is
about 80 miles inland from the port OF
Tientsin.
Although the United States is not
directly involved in the Manchurian
railroad dispute, anything of major
Importance that affects Manchuria con-
Germs the United States in its trade
interests and affects the political bal
ance of power in the Pacific. For this
reason Mr.. johnson will have serious
problems to handle in safeguarding the
American viewpoint in the pending
clash between Soviet Russia and China.
Both nations signed the Kellogg pact
renounctng war as an instrument OF
national policy, but guerrilla warfare
has been going on along the Manchu-
rian border.
There is not a diplomatic post within
the gift OF Washington which places
upon an envoy so many critical issues
as does the post at Peiping, and Mr..
Johnson is expected by his friends to
rise to the demands there, as he has at
other stages In his career.
It is recalled that when Mr.. johnson
was promoted to Assistant Secretary of
State he accepted smaller salary than
he had been receiving as chief of the
he is rewarded by q promotion that
gives him the salary Of a Minister OF the
United States, and perhaps ere long the
salary Of an Ambassador.