DIPLOMATIC PROBLEMS

Feilding Star, Volume 2, Issue 317, 22 August 1924, Page 8

DIPLOMATIC PROBLEMS

IF THE SOVIET GOES TO CHINA. •AMERICA IS CONCERNED. <By Electric Cable—Copyright). lAu*t. and IN.Z -Cable 4.«or»atiou) (Reuter.). (Received August 22, 2 p.m.) Washington, August 21. The efforts of the Soviet Government of Russia to regain possession of the Legation properties at Peking which were lost when the <LV.ari.st Government was overthrown and diplomatic relations with China were several involve questions that are regarded here as ol great importance. They have already brought the American Minister in China, Mr Schurman, to see the necessity of conferring directly with the Soviet Ambassador there, Kara Khan, whose Government is not. recognised by the United States, and has given rise to problems the solution of which is- viewed with concern h\ other members of the diplomatic corps whose Governments, are. against the recognition of the Soviet. One point emphasised by Mr Schurman is that before the diplomatic corpi in Peking can agree to the return of properties sought by the Soviet it must be considered beyond all doubt that nothing that transpired in that connection must he considered as implying recognition of Russia. Another puzzling phase is the probable arrival in Peking of Soviet troops, once the properties are surrendered to the Moscow Government. as none of the other legations wish their guards to associate with the Soviet troops. It is pointed out. too, that sinc p all members of the Peking diplomatic body hold the rank' ol Minister, then the presence of a Soviet Minister at once gives the. Moscow Government the senior representative at Peking, and would thus automatically cause the transfer of the deanship of the corps to Soviet hands.