fre from a commercial. view-"Considering the work of the
int, one cannot but agree that the Soresent status of Soviet citizens, who j!¥e no legal standing whatsoever, ("obviously detrimental to the Rail.
jays. Every commercial enterprise -spécially one in which two govern ments are concerned and which has) in view the carrying on of normal work and its own prosperity, must, irat of all, concern itself with the! Jegal standing of its vital working force which carries on the complicate work of the undertaking. Any' Inbnormality in the position of the employee or workman in the enter arise will have its harmful effect upon its economic development and upon its strength. Judging from an objective viewpoint, we cannot retrain from mentioning that a con siderable part of the Chinese workmen-and employees of the Chinese Eastern Railway, through enjoying better legal standing than the citizens of the U. 8, 8. R., need to bbe ut on an equal basis with Soviet citizens in matters of an economic} and cultural character, namely, they! must be granted equal remunera tion, similar living quarters, as well their own clubs, ete.
"It is well Known that the employees of the Chinese Eastern' Railway and the citizens of the 'US. 8, R. in general do not claim special privileges on Chinese ter-! ritory as do other foreigners who are citizens of imperialistic govern-
The Judicial Commission "The Judicial Commission consist ing of representatives of various: countries defending extra ter Hitorial tights in China, hay paid a visit to Harbin, and it has been its Intention to gain some. political Profit by using those who are derived of any legal standing a fof the necessity of rotal extraterritorial rights in China Soviet citizens in North Manchuria will never do such a thing as to take recourse to a third party in matters of establishing their normal legal standing on the territory of the Chinese people; they will take up this question with the representatives of their country and of China, "The employees of the Chinese astern Railway and citizens of the U. 8.8, Re residing in North Manchuria, having no legal standing,! fare unable to live quietly and to carry on their peaceful business hich otherwise would lead to the strengthening of the economic life of this country whose owners are the Chinese people:
"The lack of Tegal standing has a bad effect upon a number of other questions which cannot be solved successfully.
"Owing to certain circumstances, for which neither of the two parties concerned is to blame, a number of Vital questions, having a most Aerious bearing upon the Chinese Bastern Railway. have not, been solved: the question as to the administration of the railway by representatives of oth countries has hot deen decided and is, eonsequent-1 pending.
The absence of a fixed outline for the work of the Chinese Eastern Railway affects its economic situa tion, especially when it concerns the laying of sidings which are to help {nerease the freight transportation of the railway. This very important question, upon which depends. the development and the prosperity of the railway, cannot be solved beceausé the parties concerned have not come to any agreement en the subject and, naturally, when the Soviet-Mukden Conference was convened, great interest was exhibited and attention shown on the part of all people connected with the rail-
"It is thought by the Soviet delegation that should the question as to the establishment of normal conditions on the Chinese Eastern Railway not be solved within the nearest future, the interests of the railway and those of the U. S. 8. R. and Chinese will suffer in the end, resulting in a grossly unsatisfactory state of affairs for both countries.
Hostile Press judging from the hostile Manchurian press and from the activities, of third parties who are leading an exasperating war against the establishment of Sino-Soviet friend. ship, it becomes clear that these parties are striving in every way to mollify the progress and work of finite ideas, spreads rumours to the effect that the representatives of.the U.S. S. R. have entered into agreements with a certain Power, and that these agreements infringe the {interests of China, It is quite clear that these forces for evil are aiming to ruin the efforts that are being made to establish normal relations between the representatives of the U.S. 8. R. and Mukden.
"It seems to us that both the Soviet and Chinese governments could find, for the benefit of the two countries, a mutual understanding and decide thie fundamental problems which have been brought up at the Soviet-Mukden Conference.
"The prophecies and expect: of the enemies of Sino-Soviet friend. ship and of normal conditions thet! ought to be established on the Railway, must be defeated. This Jean.only be done by both parties! striving to settle, once for all, the! questions raised at the Conference.
"It is hoped by the Soviet dele ion that all the disagretmesi-s existing between the two sides will be overcome, it being necessary for both sides to trust one another. Furthermore, neither side should single out the questions brought up at the Conference but should decide them in all their scope.
"We find that it is high time that, the question of introducing normal conditions on the Chinese Eastern Railway be settled not only by words but by deeds, because the absence of normal conditions weighs heavily on both sides and hinders the development not only of the Chinese Eastern Railway but of the entire country which is closely connected with it.
"Not only the Soviet citizens but also Chinese, who are concerned with the development of the country, await the introduction of normal conditions on the Chinese Eastern Railway and the establishment of a smal legal status for Soviet citizens in. Manchuri "Everyone, connected with the! Chinese Eastern Railway, follows with interest the phases of the negotiations of the Sino-Soviet Con. ference at Mukden and is not only] {interested in_ questions. coneerning_ the Chinese Eastern Railway but in questions of a general nature. Tt fully expected by the Soviet delegation that the efforts now being at the Conference will esta>- lish friendly relations between the! U.S.S.R.and Mukden through the connecting. link which is the Chinere Eastern Railway."
In another article an attempt will be made to outline the Chinese reply ial statement of the jon to the Mukden Conference.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.