Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-07
RUSSIAN ATTITUDE
CAUSES DOUBT OF
ENFORCING PEACE
Continued From First Page.)

which in its chaotic condition in 1924
readmitted Russia to partnership.
The original French shareholders
never have been Unidentified. Their loss
represents some $710,oO0,o00 and in
equity 1t is a question of whether the
railroad, as such, can be said to be-
long either to Russia or to China.
In any case, Russia and China have
been squabbling necessarily over the
joint management during the last five
years. The Chinese in seizing the road
and arreSting Russian of1lcials violated
their treaty with Moscow, and the Rus
slams in invading China have violated
the Kellogg peace pact. China, as a
member of the League of Nations, ap-
pealed to that body for help, but moth
ing was done.
Why? The United States, in taking
the initiative by invoking the Kellogg
pact, was widely believed to have ul-
terror motives. such as saving the pres
tige OF the Marking government, pre-
serving the doubtful unity of China
and establishing a new international
control of the Chinese Eastern Rail-
way. Are these suspicious justified?
Case Complicated.
But admitting that the case is I'M
usually complicated, will not all big
international disputes always prove
complicated, and will not safeguarding
of the worlds peace require the powers
to show in the future more courage
than most OF them have exhibited in
the present instance? Thus the sig
nificance of the situation seems far to
exceed the immediate circumstances.
Why, then, has not the League of Ma
tionS acted, people ask.
Why does not China appeal to
Geneva?
Perhaps it is because China fears
that 1t would fare badly in an interna-
tional court or in an arbitration pro-
ceeding because of having broken its
treaty with Moscow. Perhaps also be-
cause Marking and Mukden are not en-
tirely in agreement. Perhaps finally, 1t
is waiting to let Russia put itself thor
oughly in wrong.
Then, why has no other league men,
Der brought the case to the councils
attention? Perhaps because China just
now is not popular with other coun-
tries which fear Markings real aim.
This is to exclude all foreigners from
China by one means or another. Per-
haps also because no nation wants to
be dragged into new war with Russia
for China's sake.
In American Plan.
Then why did the United States take
the initiative of sending Kellogg pact
reminders to Russia and China? 1t is
because the Kellogg pact is essentially
an American peace plan and the United
States would lose international prestige
II 1t allowed the pact to lapse. Per-
haps also it is because the influence Of
the pact tends to support our tradi-
tional Far Eastern policies.
Why did France and Great Britain
promptly second the United States?
France did because she considers her
self Joint author with the United States
VI the Kellogg pact, and Great Britain
did because she greatly desires to col
laborate with the United States just
now in all international affairs.
Why are Italy and Greece also be-
lated in sending notes to the diSpu.-
ants? Perhaps it is because both of
them need American capital. But Ger
many also needs American capital.
Why did Germany refuse to join in the
protest? Because under the treaty Of
1926 Germany is in effect Russia's ally
and has promised not to join any such
movements.
why did Japan also refuse? Perhaps
it is because Japan prefers that sucn
initiatives should come from Japan
itself rather than from the United
States. Perhaps also it is because
which might strengthen Marking as
against Mukden.
What about all the lesser powers
which signed the Kellogg pactP They
are apparently waiting as usual for ali
the big powers to agree before they
commit themselves one way or the
other Then the big powers are not
really agreed on the preservation of
peace in the Far East. Perhaps all
want peace, but they are not agreed
on the methods of obtaining it. This
is obvious from the fact that both Ger
many and Japan have failed 10 join the
American proceeding.
Essential Weakness.
But is not this, then, the essential
weakness of the Kellogg pact, that In an
emergency world opinion is not unani-
nous, but each country considers only
its immediate interests and policies?
Possibly that is so. And is not the same
weakness inherent in the covenant of
the League Of Nations? If the League
China's request would not both Ger
many and Japan vote against the desig-
nation of Russia as an aggreSsor and the
severing of all relations with Russia ac-
cordingly? Possibly.
Then what good are the covenant of
the League and the Kellogg pact after
all If they can thus always be blocked
in an emergency by a lack OF unity
among the powers? The only possible
optimistic answer to this question Is
that the present case is exceptional,
and that in other circumstances the
worlds peace organization can be exc
pected to work much better.
Such is the talk now heard from the
European chanceries. Meanwhile, as
far as is now known. American air
plane factories are still rapidly max
ing bombing planes for delivery to
China. and great American Arms are
continuing deliveries of machinery by
which within flve years the Soviet gov
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