Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
RAINBOW SHEDS GLOW
OF PROMISE ON CHINA
Elimination of War Lords and Civil
Conflict Possible Under
New Regime.

| question was much to the fore. At
last the United States made a treaty
with Marking in July which formally
recognized China's customs autonomy
Similar treaties have followed with
most of the other powers.
| X y X
| try which has not made the conces-
sion. Japanese industries are vitality
| concerned. and the present govern
ment in Toxic came into power on a
platform of more forceful dealing with
China It finds itself in the awkward
position of being alone in its opposi-
| ton to China's rights and yet pre-
vented from recognizing them without
some corresponding concession on
China's part which will satisfy its
critics at home.
Face-Saving Involved.
There is a great deal of "face-saving"
involved. Japan sent troops into Shan
tung last Spring to protect her nationals
OF Tsinan. There was a clash with the
Chinese armies. and the Japanese forces
have held their ground. Their COM
manders have acted as military COM
manders are likely to act under such
circumstances. The Chinese have been
ccrrespondingly aggrieved.
So far in the repeated attempts to
arrive at some solution the Japanese
have insisted upon an apology for the
attack upon their people and guaran-
ties against repetition before they will
withdraw. The Chinese have been
equally insistent that the japanese
should apologize and withdraw their
troops before any treaty is made. Apol-
ogies are very important in the Far
East. as they have been at such places
as Vera Cruz.
As in all her dealings with China,
she is overbearing and aggressive, she
provokes a boycott of the Chinese and
the market by which she lives is ruined.
If she is conciliatory, she has no diff
Guilty in convincing herself that the
Chinese at once take advantage of her
softened mood to oVerreach her. Nego-
tiationS carried on In such an atmcS-
phere are especially difficult. Yet the
ultimate result can hardly be In doubt.
X X X X
That China Is making progress under
her new rulers Is certain. New treaties
and tariff autonomy are step ahead.
The concentration of military power
under civilian government will be a
vastly greater one II it can be accom-
plished. But back of it all there fingers
still greater problem, which as yet has
hardly been touched.
Millions Face Starvation.
China furnishes terrible living lab
oratory where such truth as there is in
Nautilus theory of population is demon
Strated upon human beings. The Chi
nese prediction for large families has
filled the land to overf1owing. Long
since has the food supply become made
quate. Millions constantly face death
by starvation. A bad harvest, drought,
flood, period of military occupation
and many of these millions must take
the road to join their fathers.
A combination of these blighting ele-
ments during the last year has spread
has seldom been spread before. Careful
estimates place the number of those at
present condemned to death by star
vation at 100000. Before Spring the
number will run close to 20,000,000.
!. These people have eaten their fam
animals. They have sold all their NOV
able possessions. After these have gone,
their house poles, the framework OF
their mud dwellings, the last asset of
which despair disposes. The trees long
since have been stripped of their edible
bark to fill craving stomachs. Helpless
and almost hopeless, these millions
await the end. Only help from outside
can save them.
And this at the very dawn of Chinas
new day in which they might hope to
(Couyrfsht 1921