Nanking, Dec, 21.
Manchuria is an integral pact of China and who has every right to control it, is the gist of an official statement issued to-day by K, Wellington Koo, the Chinese it. Koo especially appeals to the United States to uphold the sanctity of the Nine Power Treaty, the first article of which ye-afirms'the prine ciple of respect for the territorial integrity of China.
Dr. Koo's statenient tolley prophesied. that the Would be the storm centre of international polities in the twentieth century and that the destiny of the world would depend upon the march tight to control and administer it. [Justice and right dictate that Japan's military ocetpation of Manchuria should "be terminated as early as} possible. But there are other important reasons why the wrong that has been perpetrated against peaceful China by Japsnese armed forces should be quickly and full repressed.
"Manchuria with its railway lines integral part of China is an_important link connecting East and West, It isan indispensible sec-jon in the shortest route round the arid. If this region should be torn. from China and put under the control of another nation, such a chance would so upset the balance of power and the relative position ut the principal nations bordering un the Pacific Ocean that the peace of the world will be greatly jeopardised.
"Possession and control of it by any militant country will 30 strengthen its strategic position and fighting resources that it bound to have the effect of stimula! ing its ambition and dreams of a }world em On the other hand, if the menace to China's continued possession and control of Manchuria removed through putting and end to the Japenese military occupation, then the dark spectre on the interional iworizon is he Far East have disappeared. The vital issue in the Manchurian [therefore is clear: should this important part of China's territory be made a prize of Japanese aggression and be thus allowed to become the cradle of future war, or should it remain with China asia bulwark lof peace and democracy?
There can be no doubt that it jwwas the understanding of the meaning and significance of Manchuria remaining as a part of China which persuaded John Hay to pronounce the policy of respecting the territorial and administrative integrity of China in order to save her from dismemberment fro inthe predatory powers. It was this realisation which prompted President Roosevelt
ion, to bring about coo the influence of lis high posi éamouth 0 that China's tertorial rights over Mancharia could ire to preserve the status quo. in Manchuria and pre: vent any. change in control which Vou President Wilson to despatch a note of protest to Japan. when, she forced the so-called agreements, 1$19-0n Chinn as a consequence of the at demands." It was the same thought of saving Manchuria from the Japanese programme of ter-Mona aggrandisement. which me tired President Harding and Secre: try of State Hughes to propose and corglove the Nine Bower treaty come multting. the signatory. powers, to respect the tertforial ant adminis:
integrity of China.
'The very danger which these distinguished 'American' statesmen have sought to forestall ly now looming large through, the forcible occupation of Mancha by Japan, word the Manchurian situation, appears on the surface Chinese question, is sentially an international problem the frst magnitude, Upon its elution depends to a large extent Hehe outlook of the sword" on its future, "Whether we shall really be able accomplish. something' in ovr Senscless struggle with the weighty problem of disarmament, reeurity End peace throughout the world will determined in mo small degree of events in territory bordering by the mature of the settlement of upon that gret nse of rater. this quest Of this prophesy is true, and have The validity. and effectiveness of not doubt it is—then the barometer such great instruments of peace. is found in Manchuria, The recent the Kellogg-Briand. Pact and. the train of developments in that re-Covenant of the League of Nations gion, beginning with the unwary are involved in the issue. More Fanted attack and occupation, by particulary, it will be an acid test Japanese troops, is not only a dan-the santity' of that notable wer to peace in the Far East, but 'American' achievement, the Nine jas shaken the confidence of iman-Power Treaty, the fist article of kind in the brighter outlook on the which ears the sovereignty, me world since the Great War. dependence sad territorial and' ad-"Manchuria has been for the past xnistrative integrity of China." throe hundred years and is to-day a
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.