The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1921. BRITAIN AND CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1921. BRITAIN AND CHINA.

Judging by the extensive delegation that China is sending to Washington in connection with the disarmament conference, it would seem there is a probability of Far Eastern questions being made the subject of discussion with a view to evolving a declaration of policy by the nations interested therein. Although China is greatly concerned over tha trend of 'events in that region, there is a notable lack of knowledge of her viewpoint as to the controversy between the nations on the subject of the Far East. Without a proper understanding of the final viewpoint of China it is impossible to arrive at even an approximate idea as to the position of matters. China’s complaint regarding the Far Eastern alliance really goes back to the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of war in 1914. In those first fatal days of August, President Yuan Shih Kai, who was then in control of North China, was very anxious to do away with the German menace at Kaio Chau, by either forcing a peaceful surrender of the leased territory, or taking military steps with the forty thousand troops in Shantung or Chili echeloned along the Pukow railway. His proposals were brushed aside by Britain, who lost no opportunity of impressing, in those fateful hours, the danger which would attend China’s entry into the war. It was, therefore, British advice which kept China from at onee entering the war and solving for herself the German problem in Shantung—advice which had the effect of handing over the people of that unhappy province to the tender mercies of aliens. Dr. E. J. Dillon, in his book called. “The Peace Conference,’’ refers to the haste of the British Government in securing thd co-operation of the Japanese in the war. The motive for that haste he assigns to British apprehension lest Germany should transfer Kiao Chau to China, reserving to herself, under Article V. of the 1898 Convention, the right of securing, after the war, “a more suitable territory” in the Middle Empire or Republic. Thereupon they began operations which were at first restricted to the China Seas, but were afterwards extended to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. If this information of Dr. Dillon’s is reliable, it would seem that it must have emanated from Japanese sources, and China has good grounds for contending that to Britain's wrong policy must be ascribed most of China’s present troubles, and not to the action of Japan. . It is plain that China feels acutely Britain’s failure to trust to the bona tides of the Chinese Government and people. To that mistrust is ascribed the source of all complications to-day in the Far East. After the outbreak of war in 1914, Britain and the United States entered into what, is known as the Commission Treaty, under the provisions of which they undertook to refer disputes to a commission, Japan being informed that this treaty must be considered an arbitration treaty. Although it is believed this information was badly received by Japan, the decision to take a free hand in China and attenujt to.jjuahl

through the twenty-one demands made by Japan on China in January, 1918, is attributed by Pekin authorities to the Commission Treaty, Japan’s action in this respect being in the nature of a counter-blast to ' Anglo-American policy. Under the circumstances, and in view of the peculiar nature of the diplomatic communications by Britain to China, it is not surprising that the Chinese authorities and people resent the treatment they have received, and it would seem to be in the interests of the entire commercial and industrial community of England that a little more fair play and frank dealing should be displayed towards China. It is claimed that the redemption of Shantung is nothing less than a British debt of honor that should be met. It may be that China is not free from blame in the matter of frankness, but there is no question that she is treated with scant regard as to her interests and desires. A nation which is remarkable as the most compact in the world, and containing a population of more than three hundred and twenty millions, cannot be accounted as too insignificant to be treated with due consideration, yet she. is treated as a kind of international football. She has been a long time throwing off her lethargy, although Western education is spreading rapidly. Britain cannot, afford to ignore Chinese problems. There will surely come a time when China will become a factor of importance in the world’s affairs, and statesmen with enlarged vision will do well to visualise the latent forces which may one daj’ in the future emerge from this vast nation and give startling evidence of what. Asiatic nationalism can achieve.