Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-15
BY GIDEON A. LYON,
Member OF American Journalists Party
Touring Orient as Quest Of Carnegie En-
doWment for International Peace.

BY GIDEON A. LYON,
Member OF American Journalists Party
Touring orient as Quest of Carnegie En-
dowment for international Peace.
CHANGCHUN, Manchuria. June IT.
Take q map of northeastern Asia, in
Guiding the Japanese islands: draw a
line from the southeastern tip OF the
peninsula of Korea, diagonaIy up
through Seoul to the northeastern cor
ner. which is at the mouth of the Yaeu
River continue this line up to Mukden
and then on northwafd to Changchun;
from Mukden draw another line down
in d enthusiastically direction to the
tip of the Liaotung Peninsula to Dairen.
That, with some additional lines, IN
the way of branches and connections,
constitutes the South Manchuria Rail-
way system. Now draw another line in
an easterly direction from Changchun
somewhat enthusiastically to the coast
of Korea. just south OF the Tumen
River and not far down from Vladivos-
tok.
Much OF the political problem In
Manchuria, and therefore In eastern
Asia, turns upon this aforementioned
line to the Korean coast. 1t does not
exist, in whole. on the map today. 1t
runs only a short distance-in fact.
from Changchun to Kirin. There is i'll
existence q continuation of this line
from Kirin to a little town called Tun-
hua. which is q bit more than half way
from Changchun to the coast. But
from the japanese viewpoint this last
described extension does not yet exist.
There Is o rail line running up from the
coast to about half way to Tunhua.
That does exist, from the japanese View
point.
Just for the sake Of visualizing the
Standardization here In this land OF
complications and expectations, draw
the line all the way on the map from
Changchun to the northeastern Korean
corner. Then you will get a picture OF
the Manchuria of japanese hopes, OF
the continental breastwork of Japan Ok
that country's wishes.
Korea rs q Bridgehead.
Such O line, completed, would give
Korea q bridgehead of protection sew
eral hundred miles In extent. 1t would
bring the Yalu River wholly within the
range Of Japanese influence" 1t
would extend the frontier away up into
the heart Of Manchuria. And, hnally,
it would give Japan railroad connec-
ton with a port on the Eastern Korean
coast and shorten the distance for the
hauling Of the supplies upon whicn tne
japanese people and industries oepeno,
making a cut of 400 miles from the dis
lance from Dairen, the port now chief
" used. to Japan.
We have just returned, an hour or so
ago. from two-day trip over that part
of the line, all that is now in physical
existence. which extends from Chang-
chun to Tunhau. 1t has been rather
trying Journey, not at all stimulating,
save at times to the sense OF humor'
and fatisuing In its stretch OF 10 hours
on each leg. But 1t has been wei
worthwhile, to give us view direct OF
the land over which there is at present
much contention. although no evidence
of the real gravity of the situation APP
pears ON the surface of affairs.
I have already indicated, In an
earlier letter, the promptneSs of the
Chinese government to impress upon
MS the fact that. after all, Manchuria
is Chinese territory" At Mukden there
we're plain indications OF desire ON
the part Of the Chinese authorities TO
take possession Of our expedition, or at
least to have hand In its guidance.
our program and our schedule were
changed to conform to that desire. in
part-but only in part. Certain amefii-
ties demanded that concessions be made
to the Marking government, and also
to the Manehuriar government. For
instance, 1t was agreed that the trip UP
to Hardin, which begins tomorrow
morning, should be under Chinese
auspices"
Kifih OfflciaIS Take Charge.
But We had not reckoned Upon the
sudden appearance at the hotel here
the night We arrived of q young gentle
man who announced himself, rather
vaguely, as the representative Of the
Kirin government, Kirin being one OF
the three provinces Of Manchuria, sent
to escort us over the line to that city and
to Tunhua. 1t required some rather
clever management on the part OF our
present guide and courier, representa-
tive OF the South Manehuria Railway,
to adjust this matter. But the next
morning 1t proved to be unadjusted
again, for into our special sleeping car,
engaged for us by the Southern Man
chtiriA Railway, with q diner. for the
trip, came pouring nearly dozen more
representatives" of the Kirin govern
ment and Of the Changchufi- Kirin
Railway. the status Of which I will ex-
plain shortly. They completely took
possession, Of our party for time sild
been effected they occupied q large part
Of tfae space left over from our luggage
dispositions.
Then began a series of nnaneuvers
that were highly amusing. whenever
| Japanese representative would come
| around to talk with one of US Chinese
would hover around, and vice versa. II
soon became apparent that the Chinese
were determined to tell us that the
Japanese have no business trying "a
run q railroad across Marithuria TO HOOK
UP with Korean port. AAd also they
were bent upon telling u that the
Japanese, who built the lines from
| Chanscllun to Kirin and that from
Kirin to Tunhua, under contract for
China, had charged an excessive price
and advanced the money for the Work
, at heavy interest. And also that the
work had been bad@. done.
| All this was confusing ana somewhat
A,snArraeeirsf. The Chinese descent
unon rs had been wholly xnerted