REIGN OF TERROR.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18604, 1 February 1926, Page 9

REIGN OF TERROR.

TORTURE IN CHINA.

SOVIET CITIZENS SUFFER. /

(87 cable —fee? 3 association—corraiGirr! (EBCTZfi's TELEGRAMS.) January 29. Telegraphing to Karaklian, Russian Ambassador at Peking, the Soviet Consul-Genera I at Harbin says that General Commandant of tho 'lihvay zone, has established a reign of terror towards Soviet citizens, obviously desiring to brc up tliG Mukden negotiations. Seventy youths between 12 and -0 years of age have been arrested and detained under awful conditions, undergoing tortures, which have been resorted to in a more severe form during the last few days. "Insults and arrogance towards the Soviet continue," the Consul concluded, "and resolute measures are necessary to counteract the Chinese attitude."

[A crisis was precipitated last week by Chang Tso-'lin, the Manchurian dictator, arresting Soviet officials who opposed his moving troops on the Chinese Eastern Railway. An ultimatum from Moscow demanded their immediate release. After a period of extreme tension, Chang agreed to release the dotained men, and negotiations were entered into for a peaceful settlement of the dispute regarding control of the railway. The Chinese Eastern Railway was _ originally owned by the RussoAsiatic Bank, an international corporation in which the majority of stockholders are French. Since the defeat of the Anti-Bolshevik forces in tho Far_ East tlie Soviet has steadily estnbl: d its diplomatic ascendancy in China and Manchuria, culminating in the signing of treaties, both at Peking and Mukden, by which China was treated as an equal, the Boxer indemnity relinquished, and Russia's ownership of the Eastern railway recognised. The Soviet recoqnised China's right t<> purchase the railwav, but put an impossible price upon it.] o