FAR EAST CRISIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 164, 29 July 1937, Page 7

FAR EAST CRISIS

Problems of China and Attitude of Japan GREATER WAR STRENGTH "If the worst comes to the worst and the outcome of the present impasse between China and Japan results in tighting between the two nations, there can . but be one inevitable conclusion, a victory for Japan, if such it can be termed," stated the Rev. Pr T. Taylor, secretary for Scotland of the China Inland Mission, who arrived in Auckland recentJy. Dr Taylor? who formerly resided for 16 years in China, has just paid an extensive visit to that country. "While the Chinese Army is a much more formidable proposition than it was 20 years or more ago," he stated, "it could never bring about the defeat of the powerful military 'machine Japan has constructed at such an enormous cost to her people. But. Japan will discover that the Chinese Army can put up very eifective oppositicn, so much so that her advisers must sureiy realise what a costly business it will prove to be if the Japanese Government is prepared to go to extremes, "China to-day is more unified than she has been tor a number of years. She regards her near neighbour, not ^without justification, as her 'would-be oppressor' and, while to a large extent her Government has had to deal with the Red forces in her midst, practically ali military preparations of the last few years have been made with the possibilitv of a coufiict with Japan in view. Extensive Preparations. "A recent tour of vast areas of China, especially in the north, revealed thy extensive preparations which the Chinese were making to withstand Japan should she atteinpt to extend her terntones into Cliina. Jfverywhere oue went it was impossible not to see and liear that China thought the day was not far distant when .lapan would try to do in the north of China what she liad already done with success in Manchuria. The Chinese people were unanimous in their deterinination to J'esist t'o the utniost Japanese aggrandisement. "China to-day is steadily progressing and improving. She has a better Governmeut than she has had siuce the liepublic was first iustituted. She has iiner men and women of integrity, altruistic in their outlook, than she has possessed for many years. The country is opened as never before. The spirit of the people is gcod, but, alas for China, she cannot begin to think that she can cope with an army such as Japan could put into the country, and which she will place there unless wiser counsels can prevail. Strong Man of China. "Japan may win territpry at China's cxijense/' said Dr Taylor, "but she wui at the sauni time rouse such a feeling oi liatred for hersclf ainong the milhons of China that can only result in a ternble struggle between lier and tbe Chmese people. "That Japan is in a difficult position will be readily admitted. The military party cannot douiinate the land without making some eifort to justify the huge expenaiture being devoted to arniaments. "The one man above ali others who to-day deserves tlie sympathy of the world is the Generalissnno, Chiang Kaishek. The students of China will be crying out for lum to dpclare war on Japau. They demauded that the last time there was an unfortunate 'affair' between the two nations. He refused to- do what he knew would bo the worst possible thing for the country. But is was not easy for him to withstand the demands of the great student body of the country. it will be more difficult tor him to-day. "Because he is tlie man of integrity that he is. he has made for himself enemies in his own country, and these will be hard at work trying tb undermine his powerful influence. China maylose Chiang Kai-shek if the populace cannot exercise restraint. That Would be a tragedy for China and for the whole world."