Evening star., 1937-08-31
The Chinese.Russian Treaty.

TextuaNy and by every reasonable
Interpretation the newly negotiated
treaty between Russia and China. the
full text OF which has been published,
has, no bearing upon the present con-
f1ict between China and Japan, which
automatically is not regarded as a war.
Were there no trouble between the two
Aslatic powers this newly arranged
understanding would be construed
merely as mutual pledge, in the Ian
guage OF the treaty, to condemn the
recourse to war for the solution of inter-
national controversies" and an under
taking ito refrain from any aggression
upon each other either individually or
Jointly with one or more other powers"
and further in the event that either of
the two powers should be subjected to
aggression on the part of one or more
other powers, the other party to the
treaty obligates itself not to render
assistance of any kind to such an
aggressor.
To such a contract there can be no
reasonable protest. It is a strictly de-
fensive alliance of negative nature.
That it should have been negotiated and
signed just at this particular juncture,
however, is matter of some concern,
lest it signify, II it does not conceal, an
unwritten agreement of direct assistance.
The very frankness with which the full
text of the treaty was given publicity
raises in some minds, inclined toward
scepticism regarding the true inwardness
Of the newly reached understanding, the
question whether this that is given to
the world is all of the agreement.
China has had one previous arrange
ment with Russia, which, while not
strictly official, had an embarrassing
effect. In January, 1923, a Russian
named Borodin arrived In Canton, then
the virtual capital of the newly formed
Chinese government under Chang Kai-
shek He was not an ambassador, but
was treated virtually as such. Through
him advances were made toward the re-
organization Of the military forces in
the campaign against the northern
provinces, which were resisting the ad-
vance OF the militant Kuomintang party
headed by Chang Kai Shek, successor
to the late Sun Yat Sen. Eventually,
however, Borodin was found to be propa-
eating Communism. Not until he had
succeeded in sowing the seeds of the
Russian system widely and effectively
was he expelled. But much mischief
had been done, and thenceforth Chang
Kai Sheks chief objective, after con-
solidating his administration over the
major part of China, was the elimina-
ton of this pernicious factor.
During several years prior to the out
break OF trouble with Japan Chang
Kai Sheks resources have been expended
mainly against the Communists Doubt
less there was little if any actual rela-
tionship between the Chinese Com
munists and those OF Russia. The word
was used mainly to describe the bands
of "unreorganized' Chinese who were
not content with any orderly system of
government and who wished to revert
to the older and more direct system of
unrestrained looting
Now, with Borodin but an unpleasant
memory, Chang Kai Shek signs up with
Russia in moral obligation to abstain
from war and to refrain from aggres-
sion, singly or with other powers Were
1t not for the fact that Russia is smart
ing from recent diplomatic and other
defeats at the hands of Japan and that
Germany is keenly concerned on the
score OF Russia's military movements in
the perhaps near future, and the further
fact that Japan has cause to be con-
cerned regarding the possible spread of
Communism In that land, this latest
contribution to the literature of diplo-
macy would not be of much moment, if it
is in truth fully disclosed.
What is chiefly to be feared in this
present situation is a change of rela-
tions which may bring about some pre-
text for an aggressive movement on the
part of Germany. Heretofore the fear
has been that that power would find
some cause and opportunity for an
attack In Europe. That Asia should
furnish the occasion has not been con-
sidered likely. Yet this strange condi-
ton in China, where war that is not q
war is raging, with Russia standing by
as a potential ally, makes such a devel-
opment possible. And every possibility
is = grave one when immense armaments
are piling up and awaiting occasion for
use.