Manawatu Daily Times Russia, China and Japan

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6991, 17 August 1929, Page 4

Manawatu Daily Times Russia, China and Japan

The seizure by the Chinese Government of the Chinese Eastern Railway in Manchuria, which has been owned and administered jointly by China and Russia, is a highly significant step in the development of Chinese power. It may produce repercussions in many directions, and already apprehensions have been expressed lest the present ownership by Japan of the South Manchuria Railway should at some later date be challenged by the Chinese. The work done under the auspices of the latter corporation has been a continuous and a tremendous factor in the commercial and industrial development of Manchuria. This railroad, under its able Japanese management, has found itself confronted with a most extraordinary increase of population in its field and a commensurate increase in business. Within a generation the population of Manchuria has multiplied fivefold, while in twenty years its trade has increased tenfold. Immigrants from those portions of China which so long have been suffering anarchic conditions are pouring into Manchuria at the rate of a million a year, by steamer, rail, and even by tramping the roads. The movement is almost like the great migrations of Tartar tribes in the past. It amounts to the sudden transfer of a. whole population, homogeneous, accustomed to privation and primitive labour, and admirably adapted to develop an agricultural territory. The Japanese, through their ownership of the South Manchuria Railway, have been coping successfully with the conditions created by this enormous influx of impoverished but industrious people. Not only that, Japan has lent something over 170,000,000 dollars to China for the purpose of building additional railroads. The necessity of taking care of its employees and the population along its route has caused the road to embark upon an elaborate programme of development and construction which includes the financing of cities and of industries, erection of hospitals and hotels, development of coal mines,, agricultural experimental stations, waterworks and factories,. While Manchuria remains a Chinese province, the South Manchuria Railway figures as the most progressive factor in its development, It seems possible that the way in .which' this road has availed Itself of every opportunity to develop its territory and to strengthen its position has led the Chinese authorities to look with disapproval upon the Soviet control of their own road, the Chinese Eastern. Nothing in the operation of the Soviet system in Russia justifies the belief that it can successfully cope with the problems of railway management, paritcularljr in a distant land requiring especial methods of development, ,The Chinese allege that since the agreement five years ago, which gave the Soviet control with China over the railroad, there have been repeated .violations of the understanding. Accordingly, Russian officials have been expelled at every point, and their places filled, not always by Chinese, but by Russians of the socalled White order, or anti-Soviet citizens. Apparently, the fight on Bolshevism, which resulted in the execution or expulsion of the Bolshevist officers who were long employed in trainiftg and leading certain of the armies of China, has now extended to the Bolshevist Officials of China's greatest railrway, Whether there is danger that this summary process may lead to Russian reprisals, oar even worse, is not easy to Judge. The size and efficiency of the Soviet armies have always been exaggerated by an outer world, and it does not appear that any very considerable foroe is stationed near the Chinese border. If it were, and there should be an attempt on the part of the Bolshevist Government to recover control of the railroad by an armed invasion of Manchuria, the fixed Japanese policy would unquestionably impel Japan to intervene. To-day Japan and China are members of the League of Nations. It will be interesting to discover how soon and how efficiently the League may turn its attention to this very serious doud showing itself on the far-off Manchurian horizon.

sPhe UHmewoa left Sydney for Wellington ft one oMock yertwAafS s * Droning classes at the Palmerston IjJorth Technical echoed will resume on Monday asst, Augnst 1& The French, croiees TourvilSo left Wellington shortly after seven. o'clock yesterday morning for Brisbane. The auxiliary schooner Paroto, which went ashore at White Island on August 7, was refloated at high tide on Thursday afternoon. She was taken m tow by the steamer Ap&nd and is expected to ataftve ft AwcfcWbi »» togr-SSA* V

A email fire caused by a lighted cigarette butt occurred in the members 5 stand ft Addington racecourse, yesterday, but it was quickly subdued. The damage was confined to one board. Ih the Supreme Court at Napier yesterday, Timothy John Daly, for theft from the person, received 18 months 5 imprisonment. Francis / Walter Chapman, for receiving money known to be stolen, was sentenced to 12 months' imJohn Aldridge was sentenced to two months' imprisonment on a charge of being a rogue and a vaga- ' ' ’