The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-20
A DISPUTED LAND
BY Lucy Meacham Thruston

desire it, China who calls Manchuria
part of herself; Japan who looks to
it for raw material and for future
homes for her overcrowded popula-
ton; and Russia eagerly seeking her
way east toward the open sea.
1t gives, or would give, to any one
of these land, good and rich, raw
material and seaport facilities, and
descriptions of it~sound. aslmust have
sounded years ago to American ears,
the tales of the far west. While
from Manchuria itself come rumors
of severance from China and estab-
lishment of an independent Man.
churian republic.
Meanwhile undercover hostilities
and irritations there are breaking
into flame; what will be the result?
A yielding of China and Japan to
world opinion and settlement through
appeal to the League of Nations, or
war? War, which it is hoped, is
unthinkable with machinery and
world opinion massed aginst it and
with world knowledge of its unspeak-
able tragedy.
Never has there been more in
flammable situation. True Russia
holds, or plays, secret hand. A
few years ago when the trouble was
between Russia and China alone tn e
United States interviewed, urging the
terms of the Kellogg Pact, and urg-
ing successfully. China in the pres
ent instance has appealed to the
League. The United States has de-
cided not to interfere, but has direct
ed Mr.. Prentiss Gilbert to attend the
sessions of the League and Mr.. Gill
bert has been instructed to attend
the sessions of the Council and to
inform it that the United States is
presared to cooperate with the
League in invoking the Kellogg Pact
to prevent war in the Far Earst.
This is the first time that the United
States sit in on the Councils session.
Manchuria comprises the three
eastern provinces of China, and has
been called the danger spot of
eastern ASIA" Disputes as to ter
ritory seaports and railroads have
been continuous since 1896, the date
of close of the Sino-Japanese war.
Soon after, in 1896, construction
of the Chinese Eastern Railway,
joint work of Russia and China, was
begun. Disputes over management
of this, which meant much of Man
churian control and development,
almost led to war In 1928,-when
the United States interviewed in the
name of the Kellogg Pact.
In the last three years, while
China has been suffering dreadfully
from famine, great trek set in from
provinces south of the Great Wall to
this less densely populated land,
with its fields still fertile.
Trains were overcrowded, steam
boats almost sunken with their
throngs, while some sort of arrange
ment was made at points and ports
of Manchuria to forward the crowds
and settle the people on the land. 1t
was tremendous twentieth century
trek.
Japan also sent her emigrants.
Japan from Korea had her spheres
of influence. Clashes have been
many. Land, railroads, ports, fish
cries, all desirable and desired, have
been causes of continuous discord.
Anyone reading Chinese and Japan
csc papers has seen the growing
trouble. Chenese have been accused
of being unfair to Japanese settled
in their towns and provinces, and
Japanese accused of being unfair to
Chinese when authority was theirs.
Never in history were two forces
more opposed to one another. A
third national force comes in with
Russia. 1t is this difficult matter
which is now before the League
Council, with questions attache d.
Can the League control the situation?
If so will aid be given to solve these
questions which smouldered to a
flare.