“BALKANS OF FAR EAST”

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1930, Page 15

“BALKANS OF FAR EAST”

RICH FIELD OF MANCHUIIA WARRING FINANCIAL INTERESTS. DISPUTES AMONG THE NATIONS. With the aid of a large-scale map, the conflicting interests of great nations —Russia, Japan, China, France, Britain and America —in Manchuria were explained by Mr. J. A. Brailsford, tutor-organiser of the W.E.A., in a lecture at the Whiteley Hall, New Plymouth, last night. Last year Russia and China had almost come to war over a railway in the north of Manchuria. Any such conflict would tend to drag in all the Powers, and for this reason, said the lecturer, Manchuria had been called the "Balkans of the Far East.”

The map, with railway lines in various colours, showed the importance to Russia of the disputed line across Manchuria —the Chinese Eastern Railway—which <rives a short cut from Siberia to Vlad'ivostock, saving a circuit of 600 miles. Thia railway had been built over 30 years ago by Russia under agreement with China, the money for its construction being lent by French and British financiers. The French people still claimed an interest in the line, and Britain supported the effort to compel Russia to recognise the debts of the Tsarist Government. The Ruatjiana had formerly held the southern branch of the railway to Dairen and Port Arthur, but they had lost it to Japan in the war with that country. Japan had also obtained concessions to build other lines, which gave her effective control over South Manchuria. She had, in addition, financed several new Chinese railways, one of which pierced .right into the territory served by the Russian line—a proceeding against which the Russians had protested. Then there had been disputes between China and Japan oyer the lat'ter’s claim that she had a right to prevent China from building lines that would compete with her own. America had tried to get a footing in the financing of Chinese railways, and Britain had financed the Peking-Mukden line for the Chinese. It would be seen that the interests were very involved. The conflict between Japan and China ovej Manchuria had -been the chief issue at the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations last year. Mr. Brailsford showed that China’s sovereignty was challenged by Japan more than by Russia, the Soviet having given up all extraterritorial privileges and the right to keep garrisons along its railway. Russia had retained only a Share in the control of its line. Japan had full control over her line, kept an army in Manchuria, claimed exemption from Chinese Jaws, and practically held this great country as a proYet there were only 200,000 Japanese in Manchuria as against 25,000,000 Chinese. PACE OF DEVELOPMENT. Manchuria had developed at a marvellous rate during the past 20 years, said the lecturer, her foreign trade in that period having increased from £7,000,000 to £100,000,000 a year. Chinese immigrants were pouring in, and in 1927 had added a million to the population. By means of lantern pictures the present-day life of Manchuria was revealed. The country’s' chief product is the soya bean, which is used in the manufacture of all manner of things—soup, soap, salad material, explosives, enamel, linoleum, lubricating oil, printing ink, macaroni, fertilisers, beancakes for cattl food, artificial milk and many other products. The various controversies between China and the Powers were also discussed by the speaker. China’s right to fix her own Customs tariffs had now been recognised by all but Japan, but the collection of the duties was still under foreign control. As to extraterritoriality—that is, the exemption of foreigners from Chinese laws and courts—Germany had been deprived of this privilege, Russia had given it up, and at the beginning of this year China had proclaimed its abolition despite the opposition of the Powers. The matter was the subject of diplomatic negotiations, as also was the exemption from certain taxes which the Chinese had to pay. This was the more -serious question of the two, said the lecturer, asking how we would like it if foreigners were permitted to come and trade in thL country without paying taxes that our own people had to meet. Mr. Brailsford expressed the opinion that personal relations were of more importance in the long run than political issues, but he claimed that political domination inclined people to an attitude of arrogance.