Fifty Years or Fight

" Get out or we'll put you out--some time within fifty years," says China.

"Let's see you!" says Japan.

The Peking Government (with nothing but civil strife back of it) plaintively asks for the abrogation of the Treaty of 1915 containing the notorious "21 demands" which Japan, gun on hip, made her accept in 1915. Japan flatly refuses.

This means, among other things, that Japan will occupy the Liaotung peninsula for another 50 years, whereas China maintains that the leases on this strip of land terminate next Tuesday. No power on earth can put Japan out except a gigantic, solid Chinese army. An army China will have if it takes 50 years to get. So runs public opinion on the Oriental mainland.

Liaotung is the promontory immediately north of Peking and south of Korea. Its harbors include Port Arthur, of war fame, and Dalny, "model city."

In 1905 at the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese war, China agreed to transfer the lease of the Liaotung Peninsula from Russia to Japan. The lease expires March 27,1923. Japan in 1915 insisted on a 50-year renewal.

At the Washington Arms Conference the Chinese delegates brought up the treaty for review and revision. Japan made several important concessions, but the Chinese Government was not satisfied and said that it would bring the whole question up again at some future date. According to reports received from China the recent demand for abrogation of the treaty was to provide an opportunity of restating China's grievances. The younger men believe that the reinstatement must eventually be made by barrage and machine gun.