The Dominion TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1917. CHINA AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3084, 15 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1917. CHINA AND THE WAR

Applanation of the rofueal of the Chinese House- of Representatives to pass a resolution declaring war on Germany must be sought rather in thcconfnsed political conditions of the Republic than in tho merits of the case. No very vital question relating to the war is raised, but there are good grounds tor holding that the action of tho Lower House is contrary to China's present and futuro interests, which would manifestly be served by a de-> finite break with Germany nnd \ definite partnership with Ea . tions of the Entente group It niav b0.,-noted at the outset, that China has an immediate %.\ lse o f quarrel with Germany in, ihat scores of Chinese on way to Europe, •have lost tycir lives as a result of German submarine operations. In March. last, after a brief contest between the Cabinet and the President, China severed diplomatic relations with Germany. It is no secret that tho Entente Powers have freely ihVitod China to take the step of declaring war. Information is lacking as to the lines on which negotiations have developed, but presumably there is no thought of enlisting China's active aid as a belligerent. At present she supplies Japan with iron and other raw materials, to be converted ido for Eussia; and some of her railways have been utilised as a link between tho trans-Siberian railway and open ports during tho winter. In addition China has sent coolies 'to the number of a hundred thousand or more to France and Eussia to serve as labourers. The Entente Powers arc no doubt intent upon securing an extension of these and similar services, and desiro the complete extirpation of German influence and intrigue in China. In return they arc able to offer important economic and other benefits which, now and in future years, should constitute a more than adequate return for any services China may render in the present emergency. It is from this larger standpoint that the recent action of tho House of Representatives seems most unwise. Even in pre-war days there was a distinction to be drawn between the unscrupulous exploitation to which Germany resorted fn her dealings with China and the Chinese policy of other Powers, and the war has strongly intensified tho distinction. It must, of course, be admitted that the past policy of all thjj Powers claiming spheres of influence in China has had discreditable features, but this does not alter the fact that henceforth it is to members of the Entente group, and to America, that China must look, if anywhere, for protection and assistance while some sort of order is evolved out of the, chaotic political muddle in which she at present exists.' ■ '

Doubfc as to what the immediate outcome of the situation created by the action of the House of Representatives will be rests mainly upon the fact that the ability of the Government to rise to an emergency lfts yet to be submitted to a decisive test. It is possible, however, that tho Government may prevail over Parliament in the matter of declaring war on Germany, as it recently prevailed over the President in referenco to severing diplomatic relations with that country. No governing body has yet appeared in China, or is likely to for a long time to come, which could in any real sense lead the nation or command its support. China as a nation is politically in the doldrums. The skeleton facts of the situation are that both Houses of Parliament are elected on a system of limited franchise, and that the President is assisted' by a Premier and Cabinet whoso appointments have to be approved by Parliament. In working practice, however, the Government and Parliament of China are only nominally democratic, and

are hopelessly out of touch with a great part of the uiidion over whom they -ostensibly rule. The various provinces are left very much to their own devices, and it has lieen said that those who know China never dream of expecting more of her than that tho provinces may manage their, own affairs, and remit a quota of their revenues for the maintenance of the Central Government.. This limited ideal as yet is far from having been attained." From some of the provinces, indeed, nothing i s heard but demands for financial assistance. Tho immediate conditions in which the Chinese Government conducts its administration were described in tho following term? a month or two ago by a, British correspondent at Peking:

China, nominally, has adopted a democratic form of Government, aifd in countries 60. governed tho Parliament is the Mainspring of action. But in China the Parliament is totally incompetent to contfol the Executive, and all acts of government must be initiated by the Executive itself. Thus, what counts in China is the Government of the day, Parliament being merely an unwieldy appendage, tolerated only because its abolition would provoke disorder and rebellion on the part of the revolutionary element. Yuan Shih-kai found that Parliament handicapped his administration, and made the error of removing it, instead of recognising that it represented a force which it was necessary to conciliate. One of the principal problems now is for the Government to <*et on with the business of tlie State without quarrelling with a, Parliament that wants to h'ave a linger in every pie, although it has hardly any understanding of the nature of the pies. A Govprnment composed of able men could deal with an intelligent Parliament easily enough; but the trouble in China ™i £ IS that we llave A Government of "weaklings trying to deal with a Parliament of ignorant men.

At the moment the outcome of these conditions is a state of affairs which militates against China's own interests and to some.extent against those of the Entente. It is not unlikely, -however, that a remedy may be found. The House of Representatives supported the Government by a five-to-one majority in its aotion of severing relations with Germany, and it should not be impossible for the Government and its foroign advisers to find a way of smoothing over the present difficulty and inducing Parliament to consent to the step which would follow logipally upon the severance of relations. Dealing with tho question of severing relations, the Government showed greater decision than it is credited with by tho correspondent, quoted, and if it shows equal determination in the present issue it may yet secure approval of its policy.