July 18.
The Russian ultimatum to China expired on Tuesday night, assuming that the day on which the note was handed to the Chinese Charge d'Affaires in Moscow was not counted in the three days? grace allowed for satisfaction of Russia's demands. There was a delay, due to the necessity of translation, in the note reaching Nanking; but the communication sent back by the latter on Tuesday evening and published in Shanghai yesterday morning, is distinctly stated to have been in reply to the Soviet ultimatum. Diplomatically speaking, it is hardly to be called a reply. Rather does it read like an elaboration of the first move, the seizure of the Chinese Eastern Raflway. That act the note justifies, partly as a means of ary self-protection against propaganda, partly on the ground that, as the USSR, never observed the 1924 agreement, there is no violation of that agreement on China's part, It is particularly emphasized that the two demands regarding the treatment of Chinese in Russia are not to be regarded as counter-temand other words, they are part of the whole' policy pre-arranged. Of Russia's demands there appears no mention.
In connection with this note the authorized statement by General Chiang Kai-shek, received to-day, has a formidable sound, Its purpose is. plainly two-fold. It is meant to roast sure the Treaty Powers that the seizure of the CER. is not to be taken as a criterion of China's intentions on other international questions. "Our programme of abolishing the un: equal treaties"-—although this stated to be the first step in China's foreign policy—"will be carried out according to.reasonable and proper procedure. "The unequal treaties will never be abolished by military force. Our strongest force lies in the rehabilitation of the country. If we want the Powers to respect our rights, we must build up a strong and efficient central government, and bring about peace and prosperity throughout the But the "Red" impenalism is another matter, lore dangerous than 'White'
ism as more difficult to 'y." 'There are numerous outstanding problems between China and Soviet Russia, those of Outer Mongolia and' Communist propaganda: "We want to take over, however, the Chinese Eastern Railway' first, before we proceed to take up the other - issues." China's move against the GER. is "nothing ial: Russia had stated that 8 inted to give it back to China, And General Chiang defines the terms on which China will resume diplomatic relations with Russia in a manner which certainly implies no giving in on Napking's part.
The seriousness of the outlook cannot be ignored. The first belief that the seizure of the railway was a "snap" move by the North Manchurian authorities is disproved by the statement of the Kuomintang's official organ the "Central Daily News, which says that the National Government has been paying special attention to affairs in North Manchuria: "The taking over of the Chinese Eastern Railway has received the careful consideration of the Government leaders and the Government is fully prepared to meet any coming developments." This defiance pure and simple. Look ing back over the events of the past two years, it almost.seems as. if the Chinese leaders had come to the conclusion that the Soviet would put up with anything. The raiding of the Bolshevik Embassy in Peking; the _-explosion of Russian officials from Canton, Hankow and Shanghai; the raids on the Tientsin Consulate and, quite recently, on that at Harbin: these drew nothing but protests, with no serious fear of action.
Will the case of the C.E.R. be another such? Apart from the ultimatum, we hear of loud demonstrations of war fever in Moscow. This news has a double significance. Without the Soviet Government's deliberate purpose and permission, neither do popular demonstrations occur in Moscow nor reports of them go abroad, Nothing more significant has occurred in connection with the Sino-Russian crisis than the "Manchester Guardian's" comments, This paper, as all know, has been a wholehearted supporter of Chinese Nationalism; it opposed the sending of the Defence Force; it has advocated early and full surrender of British. rights and interests in China, -Now it condemns the seizure of the Chinese Eastern Railway in unsparing terms. The Chinese it says be their high-bande eiven a warning to all of that the present Chinese ruler cognise no agreement which 18 wnsupported by fore:
'They have provided, the paper continues, an excellent argument for the postponement, even by the friendliest foreign' Powers, of any change in. the existing system of extra-territoriality, Nothing, they have done in recent years is better. culeulated to stiffen the attitude of foreigners who still have privileges and properties in China to defend.
The weight of this comment is increased by the general prestige of the "Manchester Guardian" and by the attention which British Cabinets pay to what it says, more, perhaps, than to the opinions of any other journal.
So near as we are to the scene of events it is difficult to decide which party has the greater claim to sympathy. Unquestionably China has many grievances against the Soviet. Outer Mongolia, as at last is recognized, has virtually been made into a Bolshevik province; the assiduous efforts of Communist agents to breed anarchy in China are certainly not to be ignored; and the Chinese have undoubtedly strong cause for against the Russian ments of the CIR. agreement of 1924. These facts may help to excuse but cannot justify the seizure of the Such action is a agreement whatever extenuating circumstances may be urged. As we pointed out the day before yesterday, the Soviet has no reputation' to lose. But China has, and, with an undoubtedly good case, she should above all things be chary of putting herself in the wrong at the outset and of alienating sympathy on a vital point of principle where on facts it would be on her side. It is earnestly to be hoped that calmer counsels will prevail, to call off those troops now so ominously gathering on both sides of the front For the mere thought of war is calamitous,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.