Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-19
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

There is no ohicially declared war
between Russia and China - nothing
but battles and commandments of cities.
Such incidents are called "reprisals,"
but net actual war. For how could
there be war" between two sigma
tories to the Kellogg treaty, by which
both nations eschewed all wars except
defensive wars against aggrcssors"?
China Is no aggressor, since all that
she did was to eonfiscate the Chinese
Eastern Railway, which she had been
operating in treaty partnership with
Russia.
Russia cannot be called an aggressor,
since all that she has done has been
to kill a few Chinese railroad men who
were interfering with her highland
edness in the operation of the railroad,
and since then all that she has done
has been to invade Manchuria, which
is Chinese territory, and battle with
Chinese armies while capturing and de-
stroyiHg certain cities Of Chinese-Man-
churia.
All diplomats, who are anxiously
watching the irretrievable progress of
warfare under the guise of Diplomatic
adjustments" refuEe to call 1t war"
lest 1t involve the peace of the world.
xUE tdlcSb Rhu IEDHU news COETe"
spondents In the Orient indicates that
Russia and Japan have come to an
agreement to divide Manchuria between
them, regardless Of Chipa's claims
but the story seems too preposterous
for calm cFedenea-for such q division
would In itself involve Japan in q viola
tian Of her obligations under the KEEL
legg treaty ahaiishing war for agrees
sion; it would Inevitably bring war with
China and probably lead to complica-
tons involving Great Britain and the
United States. and possibly France, in
protest against the partition Of Chinese
territory. These four nations are agreed
In maintaining peace In the Pacific.
Ths United States Is on record in
the protection of China from further
aggression by European powers leading
to cennsestion of her territory. The
day Of Occidental partition Of the
Orient Is past. It is incredible that
Japan. which fought Russia less than
. TIVE decades age to prevent Russian in
vasian OF Manchuria when China was
Bear. would now conspire to further
that very same purpose.
r X
A book Just published, written by q
native ChinamaH, Tang Leang-Li, en-
blHE4 LIE PBuIlddbtbitS u MOuetu
China" throws much light upon the
situation In that great country (com-
prising a quarter of the population of
The world, which Is not disclosed by
Occidental writers.
He writes; Modern apolagists of
Western aggression In China cend0ne
the forcing Of China's gates as being
to the immediate benefit Of the Chinese
peoples themselves. To England be-
longs the supreme honor Of breaking
down the isolation Of China. The ma
ton for long ages has awaited, uncon-
scieus of lis needs, for deliverer.
y English armies came and English
guns we're heard. ts How little did
these men dream that behind the
turnult and mad rush of the battle
there we're deeper forces at work that
were going to bring mighty deliver-
ance to the people Of this great en-
pirel wrote not very long ago the Rev.
J. MacGowan.
"Of late the note of exu'tatian has
somewhat toned down. and only the
ASPECT Of mutual benefit is being en-
plaasiEed 1t is asserted that 1t is
beth to the gead of the West and IF
China that China should trade with
the West and allow her natural re-
sources to be developed"
i y
We of the West conceive the Chinese
as ultra peaceful and self-deprecato
but to Chinese the very opposite from
humility is the dominant psychology Of
the Tsce. Fer thousands OF years China
was, In its ewn esteem, the center of
civilization: outside peoples were all
"barpariaHs," whose greatest privilege
Should be the opportunity to pay tribute
to the Celestial Empire. Hence the
absurdity, In the Chinese mind Of the
impertinenee of the English or Russians
or any other "barbarians" in attempt
ing to deliver" the Chinese from their
Isolation"
X y
Another phase of Chinese psychology
was indicated in their supreme respect
for their classics and for purely intel
iectual achievements, aside from any
practical use of learning. Their social
classes began with officials who had
risen tlaFeIgh personal merit--for they
had no inherited aristocracy, outside
81 the regal Line, Next 70 eeaslals esEas
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