Jan. 7.
Tue -aceount of the political intrigue leading up to Marshal Feng Vu-hsiang's announcement that he is about to retire, which we publish in another column, is one of the most disheartening stories we have read. Apparently, if Marshal Chang Tso-lin had been defeated, various parties and persons would have been prepared to throw in their lot with Marshal Feng. But because Marshal Chang came off best, these other people are now against Marshal Feng. If he Fetires, they do. not know where they stand or whom they are t> fight, unless they follow the celebrated example of the kenny cats. Meanwhile, it is suggested by some that Marshal Feng retires in order to let his army get out of hand, so that he may be entreated to come back and pull it together agai As for this theory, Marshal Feng's motives remain the enigma they have always been. But looking to the general scene, one cannot but ask, Where does China come in? Day after day we read of new combinations, new antagonisms, new attempts by this party to' create some understanding between two other parties. But where does it all lead? What is the ultimate purpose? As we said above, Where does China come in? Nowhere is there apparent the faintest glimmer of truly patriotic feeling, nothing but the most sordid selfishness and futile scheme ing. We know, in point of fact, that this is not really a true picture. We know that there are many earnest and disinterested Chinese striving to rehabilitate, their country. Again, we may well believe that many Tuchun minor military leaders and politicians are individually sincere and anxious to do what they can for the country. But somehow, when they get caught in the wheels of the political machine, their private aspirations and perceptions go for nothing. The practical effect to-day, at any rate, is that China is completely broken up into seven or eight independent kingdoms, some stronger than others, none strong, enough to dominate the rest, And there is not a sign of any tendency towards, or even possibility of, reunion between them. We have' no wish whatever to' bulk the Chinese of their legitimate desires; but, in the prevailing circumstances, it is simply absurd to talk of holding conferences in Peking with a so-called Government which commands no allegiance in the provinces worth twopence and is ble at any moment to be upset by some new provincial combination. The only way of giv-to the Customs and Extraterritorial Conferences any chance of success is for the Powers to recognize the situation as all Chinese undoubtedly recognize it} and to insist that the provincial chieftains shall be represented: and that might pave the way for the Chinese domestic conference to adjust differences and agree upon some organized scheme of Government, for which we have often pressed. Half the present trouble arises from the fact that the provincial commanders never} meet each other, but continue to view things from a purely local int, through an_ atmo:
vitiated by local intrigue, at times arising to bombard each other with telegrams even more disturbing to the general peace than the battles of their armi Why cannot the Tuchuns meet in person to put an end to the present hopeless muddle? They, could find many points in com: mon of they only would.
Tue office of the commander of ithe Allied Transportation Service at the Shanghai North Station has been abolished.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.