The Moscow-Peking Axis
After four weeks of negotiations in Moscow, the Chinese and Russian Governments have agreed on what look like various amendments to the Treaty which they signed, after much lengthier deliberations, in February, 1950. The original instrument provided for the retention by the Russians of con- trol over Port Arthur either until Russia and China signed a peace treaty with Japan or else (rather arbitrarily) until 1952.. The new agreement postpones for an indefinite period ostensibly because of the threat of Imperialist aggression from Japan—the date by which Russian forces are to be withdrawn from Port Arthur; but it confirms Russia's obligation to hand back to China by the end of this year the so-called Changchun Railway. This important artery of communication comprises both the old Chinese Eastern Railway, which belonged to Russia until 1935, and the former South Manchurian Railway, a Japanese concern; between them the two lines link Vladivostok in the east and the Trans-Siberian Railway coming from the west, not only with Port Arthur and Dairen but also, by way of Mukden and Peking, with the Sprawling railway system of China proper. Control of the Changchun Rail- way by the Chinese, even though it may be qualified by secret agreements which would come into effect if war broke out, is therefore of considerable economic as well as strategic importance to China; and it looks as if Chou En-lai, who led the delegation to Moscow, has had slightly the best of the bargaining there, at any rate from a long-term point of view. He has swallowed, perhaps rather wryly, the continued presence of a foreign garrison on Chinese soil; but he has ensured that its only land communications will be in Chinese hands, thus giving his Government the kind of advantage which Chinese Governments are singularly adept at exploiting.
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