Meanwhile, Chang Hsueh-liang, the son and successor of Chang Tso-lin
in Manchuria, has decided to break off negotiations with Nanking. _ He has done this on Japan's advice. Here we may see the beginning of the " regrettable consequences." Until Japan intervened, Manchuria had been on the point of falling into line with Chinese Nationalism. It is evident that Japan thinks there can be no compromise on the sanctity of Treaties. After the Tsinanfu episode she behaved indulgently and patiently ; now she takes an unex- pectedly strong line. Of course her commercial interests in Manchuria are immense, but she is on strong argu- mentative ground when she makes the violation of Treaties the basis of her case. The best news is that the United States is trying to bring about a reopening of the whole Treaties question between China and the Powers.
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