The Government at Nanking has taken steps to ensure that its representation at Peiping for the pur-ose of negotiating with the Jap-aueto General Staff is well-equipped with experience and diplomatic talent. The task confronting General Ho Ying-chin and his col-Teagues is admittedly difficult. for the most cursory study of the events which have led up to the present crisis confirms the Impression that Japanese ascendancy is firmly rooted. Discussions have lately: taken place between General Chiang.
Whether the discussion of "autonomy" will lend itself to satisfactory elucidation of the esjsentials of the Northern problem must depend largely on the spirit lin which the pending negotiations jate conducted. Major-General [Dothara, who is credited with, the possession of the conscience of the Kwantung Army, is believed to regard the situation as soluble by peaceful means. Friends of both countries will hope that his expecta tions will be fulfilled, but there is some donger in too confident reliance on the physical factors in the problem. The interpretation. placed on the special interests of the Kwantung Army in the North can bbe too generous in scope. No-one Jwill ignore the conditions which have led the Government at Nanking to adopt and conform to a policy of tolerance in its relations with the North and the South, but it would be a misreading of those conditions to believe that Chinese Kal-shek and Mr. Arlyoshi in Nan- friendship can be cultivated on the king. Tt Is asserted that they are basis of China's disintegration. The to be resumed at no distant /Kwantung Army—and Major-Gen-How far they can exercise effective feral Dolhara—have sufficient preinfluence on the conversations in science and farsightedness to realize Peiping is a matter for speculation. that the long view requires attention The Kwantung Army's initiative when the course Is being set for cannot be ignored, In Japan its the future conduct of Sino-Japanese supporters at the War Office have jeontacts, An opportunist grasp of just gained a triumph, for the the ephemeral occasion may prove Budget, as approved, gives the Army exceedingly costly as the months nearly all the funds for which it pass. No doubt there are means asked, Mr, Tokahash's success in whereby the Japanese military whittling down certain items is Jauthorities can create a virtual trifling and may be best regarded as enclave In the North. The question '0 sop to preserve the semblance of is whether the instruments em-dignity for a statesman whom the militarists treat with more consideration than they are disposed to show to others of his civilian colleagues. Tt may be assumed, therefore, that the Kwantang Army will not be embarrassed by the need to cultivate a dim dence foreimm to its usual temperament.—Major-General Keniji Dothara hopes to achieve a diplomatic success without calling upon the Japanese trans on the ether side of the Great Wall to ployed to that end will weather the resultant storm and whether the Jdanger of focussing resentment on the achievement so recorded. will not ultimately overshadow whol ever temporary triumph may accrue. }Nor can the two parties to dis-[cussion be entirely neglectful of the wider implications of the problem. under their review. Both have Jeiven hostages to western fortun Jand hostages, Uke chickens, come home to roost. make anything more than a purely: formal contribution to the discus~ sion. He may be expected to find the representatives of the Chinese:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.