Evening star., 1932-07-29
POSTAGE STAMPS
FAR EAST PROBLEM
Action of Manchukuo Govern.
ment to Use Own Issue
Being Watched.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

A ncw complication is looming in the
Nanchukuo Government to use its own
Postage stamps after August /. To COM
rIicPte matters it is reported that in
view OF the fact that the Chinese Gov
ernment is refusing to handle Man
chUr;an mail, the Japanese Govern
rent contemplates establishing Jap
sro,e post Office in Shanghai to handle
tho Mcrchukuo mail
According to international postal
regulations no nation Is permitted to
franchise its mail unless that nation
has gained international recognition
and has entered the International
Postal Union. Three nations must
sponsor the membership of a new state
in the Postal Union
Application Not Acted Upon.
The Manchukuo government applied
for admission on April 25, 1882, but so
far has not found three nations to
sponsor 1t. Furthermore, not a single
power has recognized the existence Of
the Manchukuo republic.
In spite of this situation, the Man
chukuo government, urged by japanese
military officials, who are detailed to
every department of the new state, has
decided to issue its own stamps. and IS
insisting that China should recognize
the letters thus franchised. The Japan
ese government is supporting the Man
chukuo authorities and is prepared 20
Use forceful methods to enforce the
Manchukuo claims.
1t is not clear yet whether letters
coming from Manchuria to the United
States will have only Manchukuo
stamps, or whether a Japanese stamp
will be attached to the letters besides
that of the new republic. The State
Department has under consideration the
attitude 1t will take when mail stamped
with Manchurian stamps will reach this
country The Post Office Department is
not likely to consider such mail fran
chized, because the new state does not
belong to the International Postal
Union.
The reported decision of the japanese
government to establish a post office in
Shanghai is regarded as more serious.
Post Offices Abolished.
In accordance with a resolution
signed by the United States, Great Brit
ain, France and Japan, in 1922, the
four powers agreed to abolish all post
Offices in China, except in leased terri
tories such as Hongkong. This resolu-
ton, while not an integral part OF the
four-power and .nine-poTer treaties
signed in Washington the same year, Is
considered a part of those agreements
intended for maintenance OF the mteg-
rity of Chinese territory.
If the japanese government decides
to establish a post Office in Shanghai
the signatories of these pacts are bound
to cop-.der such measure as another
breach of those pactS which had been
made TO preserve peace in the PACING.
Unofficial Notification.
The State Department has received
no official notification as yet about es-
tcb,i-hnent of a Japanese post office
i'll Shanghai: consequently it is un-
wiling to comment whether it consti-
Trltes another breach Of the Washing
ten treaty. 1t is believed that when
this decision of the japanese govern
m-.t materializes the four Sign2tory
powers will consult to decide what
sscps they should take to induce Japan
to observe her engagements.
l. is believed theEe will be no di-
vergence of opinion between French,
British and American governments,
especially since the French are more
interested in this matter than the
other governments. In accordance with
the treaties for the reorganization OF
China, the commissioner general OF the
Chinese posts must be a French citi-
zen. Consequently all postal matters
OF China are CT vital interest to France.