Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11

which has been one of the most subtle
and difficult things to follow. but which
is the pivot on which everything has
turned.
There has been good reasons for this.
The irreducible price which England
had to pay for stoppage of the compe-
tition in naval ornaments was not
liked in London any more than in Toxic,
but at least it was understood In ia
pan 1t was not; for the japanese keen
eyed though they be about world rela-
7tions, cannot appreciate the complicated
pattern which binds the English-speak-
ing peoples together, even though it is
constantly irritating.
For them 1t was enough that the
British had preferred a bargain with
America to the old alliance which had
been the handspring of their policy for
20 years, and they remodeled everything
accordingly.
The first clear indication was at the
Picking tariff conference in 1925-26,
when in contradistinction to the step
by-step process laid down at Washing
ton for the recovery of Chinese tariff
autonomy Japan proposed that each
power should make conventional tariffs
with China, ie act separately as their
interests demanded. This led to embit-
tered exchanges, broke up the SEM
blance of unity among the powers which
was a carry-over from happier days, and
encouraged Fabian tactics.
Revision Irritated British.
The American delegates, showing bet
ter generalship than others, did not
allow an open breach to appear between
them and the Japanese; but the British,
irritated by the constant revision OF
their special proposals, ended by DELHI
erately accusing the japanese Of In
transigeantism and stall the machine.
It was at the least favorable moment,
too. A Bolshevised China, growing
redder every moment, as the stream Of
money from the earnings of the Chinese
Eastern Railway (Which in 1924 had
passed under Soviet controD steadily
Increased, clearly presaged a storm
which would far surpass such climaxes
as a stoppage Of trade and boycotts.
Indeed, the country seemed, as In 1900,
on the eve of an outburst OF Zenopho-
bia, which would imperil every foreign
er's life.
The days when Borodin was a power
at Canton and Hankow and the great
harbor of Hongkong was on the point
of death were anxious days for people
of all nationalities.
Policy of Reprisals Abandoned.
England was puzzled. Suddenly she
adopted Cancellation as her watchword.
Japan, never forgetting her objective,
adopted nothing, but meanwhile dis
ISOLATED herself in every possible way
from a policy Of reprisals, turning the
other cheek whenever she was struck
and Gaping it all by loan OF 2,000,O0
yen in cash to the Nationalist as soon
as they were intrenched in the Yangtze
Valley.
The Minseito, or Liberal party, was
then in power. They had always had
intimate relations with the Kuomin-
you can do more rapidly and effectively
by astute moves what generations Of
men have attempted to do by force
Shortly after this, however, they were
ousted from Office, and the leadership
In foreign affairs passed into the hands
of that redoubtable champion Of direct
action, Baron Tanaka.
New Trend Recognized.
He had been directly associated with
the military party which had initiated
the 81 demands of 1915-that nearly
successful attempt to force japanese
protectorate on China. But he had re-
signed from the army to assume the
headship of the Seiyu-kai, or Conserva-
tives: and while military action still
beckoned to him as by far the most po-
tent weapon in Japans armory, he did
not remain blind to the new trend In
aeairs
III other words. he understood the
Minseito program and Endorsed its eco
nomics. But the increasing uproar, and
particularly the situation in Shantung,
which he could not fail to remember
was once nearly in Japans hands, en-
couraged him to send troops there,
small force In 1927, which he withdrew,
and large force in 1928, when faced
by the new Nationalist drive on Peking
ties along the line Of march.
Nationalist Punished.
Suddenly he found himself embroiled
In elaborate cross-play While all the
facts are not yet known regarding the
measures which had for climax the dra-
matte assassination of Chang Tso-lin at
the Japanese railway crossing outside
Mukden, there are dark suspicious, and
this much may be hazarded.
AS in 1915, over the 81 demands
Shantung was merely a foil for Man.
churia. What Tanaka was working for
was a better position on those plains
where the Russians had been fought to
their last gasp. But in Shantung the
honor of the Japanese army had been
unexpectedly compromised by the Ma
tionalist massacres under the very
noses of japanese brigade, and this
could not be passed by. Accordingly
the army was allowed to punish" the
malefactors by the assault and capture
of Tsinan which left 1000 Chinese dead
on the field,
Then because Chang Tso-lin in Peking
was calling this an enemy act against
China (aIthoueh the Nationalist were
his own enemy he was given an ulti-
matum to leave-and he obeyed, to run
right into death trap.
Tanaka Forced From Power.
His elimination, however, produced
expected. Instead of an opportunity
offering itself for the use Of heavy
hand in Manchuria as in Shantung,
from spontaneous outbursts, the Man
churian army. with this stupid crime
as warning, remained as quiet as the
grave and INDUCED in no provocative
acts. Tanaka, foiled abroad and as
saulted at home in the Diet, fell from
power and inevitably passed out OF the
portunity to give form and substance
to their modified policy which has
about it so much finesse.
The matter of conventional tar1n,
which would suit japanese rnanufac-
tHfers and gain by way of commerce
what had been attempted again and
again in other ways, became the key
note.
China Great Future Market.
Here it is necessary to remark that
the Chinese market, while still not so
important to Japan as the American
(where the immense shipments of silk
go), is infallibly destined to be the
major market. In days to ceA,e such q
volume of raw materials will be drawn
from all China that all the other
volumes will be as nothing, and in re-
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