Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-16

certain number Of millions. In each
case the number of the millions is given
quite exactly, and in some cases the
manner in which those savings" from
salaries have been invested Is stated.
It is a striking fact that these specifieo
investments are all of foreign charac-
ter. In other words, If these tales be
true, the Chinese who have been thrifty
have been likewise shrewd enough to
put their money where it has the pro-
lection of governments stronger tnan
their own.
Tales May Be Untrue.
Now all these tales may be untrue,
the basest of libels and ISLANDERS, but
they do not seem to be contradicted.
Perhaps the Chinese philosophy Is to
let sleeping dogs lie, lest they bark and
bite, and also that it Is not worth
while to argue about a matter OF ethics.
The press in China, though not quite so
free Just at present as 1t has been for q
long time past, naively hints at this
condition of affairs. Whenever news
paper is denied the mails, the favor1te
form of execution" or an individual
Journalist is doomed to deportation, as
one has just lately been. the offenSe Is
not a reference to the fiscal shortcom-
ings of the administrative officials, but
to the chances Of this government to
survive.
If all these things be true-if the
courts of China are as corrupt or as
inefficient or as greedy as the tales
about them indicate; If the adminiStra-
tive officers are as thrifty as their rep
utations disclose; if the taxes levied are
as strange and surprising as one that
was suddenly imposed here in Shanghai
yesterday without notice-if all these
things be true, it is not to be Won
dered at that the advocates OF extra
territoriality are determined to fight to
the last ditch for this measure OF pro-
lection. They are called "die-hards,"
these last-ditch defenders. They have
been through some trying experiences,
but in the main-in fact, it would seem
that uniformly-they have prospered.
There Is great wealth here, among the
Chinese, the foreigners of alien national
registration and the foreigners OF Chi
nese citizenship. Millions upon millions
are at stake in this matter of extra
territoriality.
Mortal Blow Might Fall.
It Is not a violent hypothesis that If
"extrality' were surrendered by the
powers and the settlements and con-
cessions yielded, Shanghai would suffer
mortal blow, even as TientSin Is now
in the agonieS Of commercial demise be-
cause of the sitting up Of its harbor IN
consequence of the neglect Of the Chi
nese authorities to keep the channel
open. I have heard it said that II these
present securities and safeguards were
withdrawn Shanghai would be bank
rupt in five years.
These observations, it is due to my
self to state, are not In any manner or
degree the result of a holiday frame Of
mind" or cordial receptions from hos
pitable hosts" or "conviviality." They
are the result of talks with all classes
of men, here and in the north-business
men, Americans, Englishmen and Chi
nese. The prevalent feeling is that the
demand for the abolition Of extraterr1-
toriality Is a campaign cry Of the Kuo-
mintang and that the leaders are keep
ing it up for the sake Of face pigeon"
not expecting success-indeed, not want
ing success. Something Of this sort has
been heard of in American politics in
the past.