WHAT OF CHINA?

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 227, 25 September 1928, Page 5

WHAT OF CHINA?

NEEDS FOREIGN ASSISTANCE. FRIENDSHIP VALUED. "Wherever the flag of America will fly it will fly jointly with the flag of Britain. We may have our family differences, but they will all be lost sight of when there is anything of vital import." In these words an American visitor, Mr. John Cook, of Brooklyn, U.S.A., who spoke to Auckland Rotarians yesterday, prefaced his address on China. In regard to reports of affairs in China the speaker urged the wisdom of discounting much that was published. For instance it had been reported that there had been very heavy losses when Shanghai was taken. He had been there at the time, and could state that there had been no bloodshed. The position was that the resident general was caught napping, and his opponent simply came in and took possession of the city. Mr. Cook spoke interestingly of the various generals prominent in recent warfare. Concerning the efforts for the reconstruction of China, the late Dr. Sun Yat Sen would, in the future, he predicted, be designated the Washington of China. He was an idealist. Had he not been he could have led his armies to complete victory. Mr. Cook emphasised the marvellous facility of the Russians for propaganda. "The most efficient in the world," he said. They were in all important Chinese institutions and controlled the news. Dealing with China's present demands, the speaker justified the request that crimes of foreigners should be dealt with in the Chinese Courts. When Britain had refused to withdraw her soldiery and her gunboats from the concessions at the instigation of the Chinese, Britain, he said, never did a better thing. That action was approved by the better class of Chinese. Since the Nationalists had obtained control they were seeking to collect their own Customs and taxes, and to place the country on a sound economic footing. In this as in other matters they needed the assistance of countries like Britain and America. The world's peace, he reminded his hearers, was involved in what would take place in China during the next ten years. The Chinese thoroughly understood friendship, and appreciated that trait no matter whence it came.