Imposing Peace

Diplomatic pressure from the Great Powers mobilized by U. S. Secretary of State Henry Lewis Stimson, last week virtually imposed peace between Nationalist China and Soviet Russia. Dictator-Governor Chang Hsueh-liang of Manchuria, commander of China's first line of defense, even found leisure to pose and talk pidgin English for U. S. Movietone minions.

As the danger lessened, correspondents drew from Statesman Stimson a characteristically frank admission that the peace making had become rather a free-for-all. "As long as the important countries which control public opinion are mobilizing it against war," he said, "I do not care about the methods they are using or about which moved first!"

Facts seemed to be that severally and collectively the U. S., Britain, France and Japan had all admonished China with especial sternness. Though by no means sympathetic with Moscow, the Great Powers advised Nanking that the Chinese seizure of the Russian-staffed Chinese Eastern Railway (C.E.R.) in Manchuria, three weeks ago, was indefensible. The seizure, of course, provoked the crisis (TIME, July 22).

In the eyes of the Powers the Soviet Government has a vested right in the C.E.R. under the Sino-Russian Treaty of 1924. If the treaty rights of any nation --even Bolshevik Russia--are not sacred in China, then the treaty prerogatives of other nations are clearly menaced. The Powers in order to uphold their own rights (such as Japan's hold on the South Manchurian Railway) were obliged last week to uphold Moscow's rights.

At first the Chinese Government's wiry little Foreign Minister, Dr. Cheng T'ing ("C. T.") Wang (Yale, 1911), vehemently asserted China's "right" to grab the C.E.R. The Treaty of 1924, he pointed out, provides that the Soviet railway personnel must not engage in Communist propaganda, a proviso often flagrantly violated. Right or wrong, however, Dr. Wang changed his tune when the screws of diplomatic pressure were applied. Presently the Chinese Foreign Office announced that:

1) The Nationalist Government did not actually "seize" the Chinese Eastern Railway but merely "took it under temporary control."

2) The Soviet Government's interest in the C.E.R. has not been "nullified," and the Nationalist Government reaffirms that "all foreign interests in China for legitimate purposes will continue to be re-spected."

3) Peace between Russia and China should be consolidated by speedy negotiation. Berlin was tentatively considered the best place for the parley.

Moscow despatches soon told that Russia's enigmatic Josef Stalin, most secretive of dictators, was believed ready to keep the peace on the basis outlined in China's memorandum, but demanded that all Soviet citizens imprisoned or detained in China be instantly released. Atrocity stories reaching Moscow told of 40 Red Comrades chained and beaten by Chinese and White Russians at Pogranichnaya, Manchuria. Fired by these tales, thousands of proletarians mass-met at Leningrad and voted a manifesto: "The Leningrad workers insist that the Soviet Government take decisive steps against the haughty Chinese and the White Guard bands. . . . The workers declare that the Russian peace policy does not mean Russia is re-signed to submitting to outrages!"

The most drastic action taken by Moscow against Nanking, last week, was to put an absolute embargo on China tea --of which $7,500,000 worth was stewed in Soviet samovars last year. The few U. S. correspondents "on the spot" at Harbin and Mukden, last week, heard that Soviet planes were dropping occasional bombs along the Siberian-Manchurian frontier, 400 miles away, and also that six armored Russian trains were drawn up athwart the frontier city of Manchuli. When Chinese riflemen sniped at the Russian planes, a few pieces of Soviet field artillery were unlimbered and warning shells whined across the border, to fall (intentionally) into empty fields.

Japan throughout the week showed some reluctance to cooperate with the other Great Powers in applying diplomatic peace pressure. Plainly Prime Minister Hamaguchi would have preferred the role of Chief Mediator assumed, however modestly, by Statesman Stimson.

Repercussions of the Russo-Chinese crisis were felt even at Sam W. Gumpertz's Chinese Chamber of Horrors ("Eden Musee") on Coney Island. In gruesome attitudes of opium smoking, flagellation and beheading, Mr. Gumpertz's waxworks Chinamen thrill goggle-eyed gumchewers. Last week Chinese Consul-General Samuel Sung Young, fearing that such exhibits might prejudice China's case in the U. S., appealed against Mr. Gumpertz to Manhattan's Mayor Walker who promised to investigate. Mr. Gumpertz said the most he would do would be to hang up NOW ABOLISHED signs.