Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-28
WAR IN MANCHUR|A
TERMED BOOTLEG"
U. S. Soon May Face Test of
Pacific Aims Under KeI-
logg Peace Pact.
BY William RUFUS sCiorr.

Prohibition Of war as an instrument
OF national policy, in the Kellogg pact,
has brought the first instance of boot
Logging" war in the clash between So
Wet Russia and China on the Man
churian border, over the Chinese seizure
OF the Chinese Eastern Railroad, jointly
owned by Russia and China.
Each nation has declared that the
border raids have been solely to repel
aggreSstons by the other. In the last
few days the Soviet forces have been
reported strongly on the aggressive.
well into Chinese territory, despite the
pledge under the Kellogg pact. These
reports are considered &C the Depart
ment Of State to be somewhat exag-
gerated, and the expectation has been
that Moscow would disclairn any agrees
siys action, as In the previous clashes,
Nevertheless, 1t Is we'll understood
here that Soviet forces have gone
deeper into Chinese territory than
would be necessary in simply repelling
alleged Chinese raids. The pressure
being exerted, on China by the Soviet
now is held to be timed at what Moscow
would consider the most effective mo-
ment-when China Is torn by internal
strife and unable to make resistance
70 the better armed and better trained
Red troops.
MoSCVWB aims Unknown.
If the pressure is sufacient to put
Manchurta, II not China rs @ whole,
into . mood TO negotiate over the rail-
road, 1t Is assumed that the Soviet pres
sure VIII be relaxed. Whether Moscow
has decided TO move forward until the
whole railroad, and the City OF Hardin.
are captured Is known only to Moscow.
Even then Moscow may be expected 10
assert that 1t it not an aggressive war.
but merely defensive of RuSsiaS half
interest in the railroad, seized by China
IN July.
The word aggression has been given
the most earnest study, since the KEEL
logg pact was ratified, by every foreign
ONCE as well as by the Department OF
State. The dictionary defines it as ian
unprovoked attack" China declares
that 1t is an internal problem and that
Russia is aggressive in crossing the
MAnchurian border to safeguard its
property rights In the railroad.
Inc United States has been exerting
such influence as it could to solve the
crisis, but President Hoover In his Ar
mtStice day speech made II unrnistak-
ably clear that the United States had
no intention Of constituting itself the
policeman Of the world TO compel other
nations to obey the Kellogg pact. If
war what the United States and other
nations may do, or what the League of
Nations may do, remain to be disclosed.
Study Activities Closely.
In the meantime O war is going on.
Men are being killed, wounded and cap
tured and civilians violently affected as
in regular warfare. The declarations
OF either nation that It Is engaged only
In defensive activities, permitted under
the Kellogg pact, are being studied
closely so that In the final settlement
the blame can be placed accurately. out
OF this clash viii come q clarified con-
cept, IN the diplomatic world, OF what
aggression means.
There Is q direct interest OF the
United States in having the word clear
United States that 1t will abrogate the
treaty on extraordinarily II It is not
waived by the United States by jan
uary /. Would the abrogation of the
treaty constitute an aggression on
China'S part? Heretofore such a course
has been considered offensive. The flu
rore over the violation of the Belgian
treaty at the beginning of the World
War Is recalled as an example OF public
opinion on the issue. In this instance,
China has given advance notice Of its
intention. An agreement may be reach
ed before January !, but 1t will not
obviate the fact that threat induced
the compromise.
Soviet Russia manifeStly has not been
content to accept the Chinese seizure
Of the railroad without resistance, or
at least without using q show of force
to induce China into what Moscow
would consider o more reasonable ne
gotlating mood. How the United States
will meet q Chinese reputation of
treaty, II It does occur, will afford an
other measure of public opinion on the
Kellogg pact and its practical applica-
ton to international disputes.