Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-19
Warfare in Manchuria,

A lamentable development of Japanese
Chinese hostilities has occurred at Muk-
den. which may have the result of an
outbreak of war between those countries.
It is difficult to trace the precise cause
of the present clash, which appears to
have been acutely centered between
Japanese and Manchurian forces, to
the immediate END of the seizure Of
the timer city" of Mukden by the
.Japanese. Unless there is early and
sincere effort on the part OF China TO
settle the dispute and pacific CO.
operation on the part of Gen. Chang
Hsueh LANG, the Marshal OF Man
churia. the trouble is likely to develop
into a war the end of which may be
change Of sovereignty in Manchuria.
Japan is in Manchuria as holder Of
a concession Of railroad rights,
granted in consequence of the Japanese
victory over the Russians in 1905.
Under the terms of the Portsmouth
treaty. which settled that conflict,
Russia transferred to Japan her lease
of the Kwangtung Province, the rail-
way between Port Arthur and Chang
chun and its branches, together with
the coal mines and various rights APP
pertaining to the transportation system.
The treaty Of Picking, signed in Decem-
Der, 1905, approved these transfers TO
Japan. while by an additional agreement
China also gave Japan the right TO
maintain and improve the military line
between Antung, on the Korean border,
and Gukden, built during the wer by
the Japanese troops. BY a protocol
appended to the treaty China pledged
herself to Japan not to construct any
main line in the neighborhood OF and
parallel to the South Manchuria Rail-
way or any branch line which might be
Arejudicial to the interests of that
Vailway.
Under the treaty of Picking, Japan
Qnay maintain In Manchuria a maxi
mum Of $4,000 troops to safeguard Its
rail lines, which are owned in fact by
the japanese government. About hall
that number of troops have been kept
on duty, and in consequence the area
of the japanese occupation has been
the most peaceful and orderly portion
of all Manchuria. Recently incidents
have occurred to arouse sharp feeling
between China and Japan. China has
engaged in railway constructions which
Japan claims to be violative OF the
Picking protocol. A couple Of months
ago Koreans attached Chinese laborers
in Korea and large number Of the
Chinese were killed. Japan disclaimed
responsibility for this act, though its
forces did In fact make some reprisal
upon the Koreans for their violent
deeds.
The latest Of these incidents" has
been the immediate cause of the present
conflict. A Japanese officer, Capt.
Nakamura, engaged in some survey
works In connection with the railway,
. was captured by Chinese troops and,
with three companions, was summarily
executed as spy, 1t being contended
that he was making maps. This caused
an intense feeling to develop in Japan,
and it was hoped that the affair might
be settled by the intervention Of the
Marshal Of Manchuria, within whose
(. territory the execution occurred: In
= deed, there. is hint In the dispatches
that the blame for the execution OF
Capt. Nakamura had been laid upon
Gen. Kwan Yu-heng, a regular Chinese
!. Commander Of the Marking government
forces.
Just as the negotiations seemed to be
approaching settlement there came
3 new occasion for japanese anger. Troops
& OF what allegiance is not established
"a are said TO have bombed and destroyed
tracks of the japanese line. This caused
the attack by Japanese troops upon
T Mukdep, the Manchurian capital. which
according to the latest reports, has sue
ceeded to the end of the occupation oil
that city. Just where Marshal Chang
1 Hsueh LANG stands in this matter X
not clear. 1t would seem probable, how
ever, that the attack upon his troops
and the taking of his city definitely
places him in an anti-Japanese position
1t is undeniably Japan's aspiration
TO control Manchuria. That country
has never been reconciled to the loss Of
what it regarded as the Legitimate
fruits OF war" after the defeat Of China
in the campaign Of 1S94-5. There is 9
highly militant party in Japan which
seeks the recovery of what is considered
as the rightful japanese conquest or
the mainland. The execution OF Capt
,Nakamura was Immediately seized upoI
by this party as a warrant for punitive
measures which would have the effect
II was clearly hoped, Of placing JapaI
IN possession not merely Of the railroa'
concession in Manchuria, but definiti
suzerainty, II not sovereignty, over a
least the Province Of Fengtien. the rich
est area In Eastern Asia.
.----S-S4&'--s-------
Edison is reported TO be on tn
mend. The good news encourages tn
hope that he will soon be strong enough