Manchuria Surrendered

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 384, 19 June 1928, Page 9

Manchuria Surrendered

Nationalists to End Chang’s Rule

Japanese Diplomacy Faces Problem

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.)

Reed. 9.45 a.m. SHANGHAI, Monday. rE three Eastern provinces, of which Manchuria is comprised, for many years peacefully governed by Chang Tso-lin, and virtually a Japanese colony, are about to be surrendered to the Nationalists.

The latest reports from the North states that the Manchurian war lords, realising that they are unable to hold out longer than the Nationalists, are reported to have expressed a willingness to discuss terms. Peking and Tientsin are quiet. The change of regime was effected with a minimum of disturbance. The Nationalists are proceeding to fill the administrative positions with their

own officers. The posts have been deserted by the Northerners for nearly a fortnight. Throughout the greater part of China’s many civil wars, Manchuria has remained secure from all the disorder and interruption of government which have disturbed the Republic from Canton to Peking. The reason has been the firm dictatorship of Chang Tso-lin, who was trained in the discipline of the Japanese army, and who felt secure in the sympathetic, if covert support of Tokyo in his methods of government. The effect of the surrender of Manchuria to the Nationalists is likely seriously to disturb the diplomacy of Tokyo, which will be concerned in the preservation of Japan’s commercial interests in the territory. No doubt Nipponese strategy will adapt itself to the altered conditions. Manchuria hitherto has been virtually an independent territory, where Japan could extend her interests without serious challenge. Now she will find herself confronted vfith a vigorous and suspicious Nationalism resentful of foreign encroachment. Of course the National Government has still to prove itself capable of preserving stability over the vast republic. In the event of its failure, Japan will not find her sway seriously impaired.