CHINA'S PART IN THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3027, 14 March 1917, Page 7

CHINA'S PART IN THE WAR

A CHECK TO GUAN AGGRESSION.

The Rev. W. Mawson, Presbyterian missionary in China, at present on furlough in New Zealand, supplies the following interesting summary of the position of affairs in China, and tho reason of Japan's pressure on that country to forego her neutrality in favour of tho Allies.

"From the cablegrams to hand," lie says, "it would seem as if China were about to depart from tho position of neutrality which she announced at tho ■beginning of tho war sho would strictly maintain. Two factors have probably contributed to bring this about. One is the very active Gorman propaganda which has been carried on throughout the Republic ever since the ■war began; the other the American sympathies of'the'present Chineso Government. AVhe'n war broke out somo thousands of Germans and Austrians Vvere engaged in shipping, commerce, nnd_ business enterprises in China, and their number was increased by those •who managed to escape in timo from Hong-Kong and other Allied territory. (After the fall of Kiau-Chau, those iinder arms were interned in Japan, nut there still remained at largo in China a considerable number of German citizens with ample timo for mischief on their hands.

"As they could neither import nor •Sxporfc goods, their occupation was gone. But if they could not carry on iihemsolves, they were determined that their oppononts should profit as little Sib possible by their loss. Thoir operations took the form of a virulent antiißritjsh and anti-Japaneso campaign, carried on in their own German publifcatioDS from tho security of their quarters in the international settlement in Shanghai. For the benefit of nou•trals they published in English, and circulated gratis, a weekly paper giving the 'Gorman version of the war news and numerous articles copied from the rabid German-American press of the States. ■ Control was also acquired of Chineso newspapors in'the various centres, and these were used S.O circulate tho stories of German victories and the coming triumph of the Germanic armies. The utmost was made by tho , encroachments of Japan on. Chinese rights and territory, and 3t was insistently represented that Britain was behind Japan, as her ally, iaidiiiK and abetting her in a far-reach-. Sng scheme to subjugate the Chinese nation. Whatever may bo tho ambitions of Japan in relation to China, 'the German propagandists' certainly did (their utmost to work on the fears and prejudices of tho Chinese, and raise-ianti-Entonle feeling. In another direction their leisure, was bised to cultivate relations with Chinese infEcials and gentry, and there has been Snore than a suspicion of Gorman injHucncc behind tho difficulties created in various matters affecting Allied interests. For instance, why was the Ifurore recently raised in the Chinese newspapers about French aggression in 'the matter of Ihn extension of tiieir concession at Tieutsin, when that cxllensioni had been arranged and officially promised for years? Acain, why to'as the export of cattle from the Province of Honan prohibited by proclaImation when British camo into tTio field, althouitli formerly Gorman acents had beeu allowed to purchase without restriction ? And, again, ' why did Chinese officials dispense with all .British employees on Hip Tientsin-Pukow railway while every last German was retained t A great deal has been borne in patieuco by the Allies from tho rlesiro not to involve China in tho great world struggle, but tho last straw has rvi.dentlv broken, and Japan has voiced the ultimatum of ...the . .Allies, that China must decido wholhor she is for ■I hem or against them.

Tho New President. , The death of Yuan Sliili Kai and 'the departure from olh'cu of many of Vis following, men of Uio old school of easily corrupted 'Chinese- politicians, must have been a severe blow to the •Herman schemers. The now President, Li Yuan Hung, is a Progressive, and bas gathered round him men who are eager for reform. Many of the young reformers ba.ro been educated in America, and the now Minister of foreign Affairs. AVu Sing Fang, is well known for bis Liberal sympathies. Ho was for many years Chinese Minister ■to Washington, and has many friends an America. There is ovrr.v probability iliafc he would bo inclined to follow- tbe lead of the United States as to relations with the warring nations. ■ A rupture of relations with China, even if China does not enter upon active warfare, ■ would crentp a very serious situation for the Hun. His haven of refuge in the East, -would be gone. Even if he retired to tho German Concessions in the International Settlements at Tientsin, Shanghai, Hankow, ahd elsewhere, tho intricato diplomatic situation created would be extremely irksome, and China would find it necessary to .exert her sovereign Tights. The annual payments by China on account, of the Boxer Indemnity, a fund from which much of this intrigue and propaganda has doubtless been financed, would cease to flow into the coffers of the. German Asiatic Bank. Tho river gunboats and 'merchantmen wTiich .found refuge in Chinese ports at the nutbrenk of war would pronably pass into. Allied hands. Tho "roat warehouses and offices at the open ports, from which thn ramifications of vast Herman enterprises rencliod out to rapture the trade of China, would be lost, and the commerce of China, "that .rich plum of the East, for wliicli the. German has schemed and toiled and gamWed for the. last thirty years, would piip through his finger.s.