Evening star., 1935-11-19
China's S Doom.

While the japanese Army four years
ago was engineering the creation of
independent" Manchukuo, the fiction
was propagated that the inhabitants of
the Manchurian provinces, considering
themselves Manchus and not Chinese,
were voluntarily going about the busi-
ness of setting up sovereign nation
based upon genealogical and geographical
foundations. The new state having been
established under Japanese military and
political protection, Toxic was profuse
in its assurances that Japan had no
intention of widening her sphere of
influence into China proper"
Events due to occur this week indicate
that the japanese program in China,
which has long aimed at domination of
that country, is about to be advanced
on new and colossal scale. Five prov
inces of North China-Hopei, Shantung,
Shansi, Suiyuan and Chahar-are to be
set up as an autonomous state and
separated from the Nanking govern
ment. The result will be the detachment
of an area of 47O,O0O square miles, en-
bracing population of 95,00O0OO. The
American mind will grasp the immensity
of the territory thus to be sliced from
the heart of China when it is realized
that it equals the combined size of the
New England States, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana Michigan and
Minnesota.
AS happened when Manchukuo was
fashioned, the Japanese claim that the
northern provinces are springing into
independence" as a native revolt
against the oppressive Marking govern
ment and that it is led by Chinese gen.
erals. For many weeks past Japanese
Army leaders have openly been threat
ening North China with forceful meas
ures unless it's political and military
authorities "co-operated" in suppression
of anti-JapaneSe agitation, banditry and
communistic activities. 1t was obviously
beyond the power Of North China in
definitely to cope with the superior
strength Japan is in position to fling
into the region. The inevitable is now
imminent. Japanese sway is on the
verge of deep extension beyond the
Great Wall.
Hitherto, as the army pounded its way
and imposed its authority ever nearer
to China proper" the civilian Japanese
authorities have professed to look ask
ance at such aggression, though ready,
when its purpose was accomplished to
accept the resultant fruits. On the pres
ent occasion, militariSts on the mainland
and the government at Toxic are ap-
is a cynical conviction in all Japanese
quarters that the world is far too abb
sorbed in its own troubles, particularly
the Italo Ethiopian conflict, to offer any
real resistance to Japan's plans for bring
ing North China within her grip.
The area includes the ancient capital
Of Peiping official seat of foreign en-
bassies and legations in China, and the
great commercial port of Tentsin. In
both places considerable numbers of
foreign troops are serving as guards for
diplomatic premises and the railway
line connecting the two cities. Whether,
under these circumstances and despite
their preoccupations nearer home, the
powers with vast interests in China will
stand by as wholly inactive observers of
Japan's latest moves is more than open
to question. The nine power treaty and
the Kellogg pact are definitely affected.
Unless they can be invoked or other ac-
ton taken to stay Japan's hand, China's
doom, long foreshadowed, is sealed.
Night once again will have triumphed
over right.