Evening star., 1932-02-08
Japan's Latest Proposal.

Japans Latest proposal.
While the Japanese forces continue
their efforts to reduce the Woosune
forts, at the mouth of the Whangpoc
River. with the evident purpose Of
clearing the way for the landing ot
forces, the danger of fighting within
the International Settlement at Shang-
hal, which would precipitate definite
conflict between the forces of the in
terveaing powers and perhaps both
Japanese and Chinese, is appreciably
lessened. Apparently Japan is not dis
posed to create such a situation. This
grants time for the formulation Of fur
ther representations by the powers to
the end of stabilizing conditions at the
great Eastern port of China and per-
haps of effecting a definite adjustment
without further warfare.
A new condition develops with the
announcement that japanese diplo-
matte representatives have been in
structed "to seek favorable opportuni-
ties" to broach a scheme of demilitari-
zation of zones surrounding the prin-
cipal commercial centers of China
which would amount to an interna-
tional receivership. The project is that
Shanghai Canton, Hankow, TSingtao
and Tientsin be set apart from Chinese
authority, with neutral zone fifteen
miles in diameter established at each
place, within which no Chinese troops
will be permitted and with an inter-
national control by foreign forces and
extraterritorial rights for all neutral
occupants This is to be a provisional
arrangement, pending the establish
ment of responsible Chinese govern
ment. Manchuria is, according to the
outline given, to be excluded from the
plan, being regarded by Toxic as ia
pans frontier" with Japan taking
care of all international rights there.
OF the five cities named in the Jap.
anese proposal only two, Shanghai anc
T1entsin, now have extraterritorial ar
rangements. The inclusion of Tsingtac
in Japans plan is significant. That
CITY lies within the area formerly oc-
cupied by Germany, and after the out
break of the Great War, by Japan. The
latter power withdrew only after the
Washington Conference of 1922. II
may be Japan'S desire to create a per-
manent international settlement there
Tsingtao is an important strategic point
with an excellent harbor. Hankow, ly-
ing inland, is significant inclusion in
the program outlined by Toxic. An ex-
traterritorial organization there would
create an island" of internationalism
in the heart of China. II Canton were
included in the scheme China would
be deprived of ports over which 1t has
full control.
The Chinese government is at present
inchoate. There is actually no central
authority at this time. The co-called
Nanking administration has virtually
collapsed. Such national power as ex-
lists has passed to the soldiery under the
command it would seem, OF Chang Ka
Shek, until recently chairman of the
executive central council, or, in effect
president of the republic. 1t is quite
within the probabilities that If he fails
to stem the Japanese attack at Shang-
hal another of the war lords" pos
sibly Feng, the Christian General,
will usurp his role. He is now. some
where near Marking. WI Pei Flu Is
also in the offing, having emerged from
his retirement in Buddhist monastery
where he has been nursing lhis political
wounds since 1928.
Japans proposal at least offers the
basis of some sort of international in
tervention without directly affecting the
immediate issues of the contest between
that power and China. It is TO be as
sumed that If the powers seriously con-
sider the plan, 1t would appear clear
that Japan expects to hav" part In
the international organi1<. 4,ns con-
trolling the five centers. That factor
might conceivably initiate against the
adoption of the program. And finally
it is to be borne in mind that any such
method of adjustment and stabilization
would have to be put into effect against
the will of China But if it were seri-
ously and definitely undertaken, China's s
opposition would in all likelihood be
ineffective in prevention.