NORTHERN CHINA.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 165, 30 July 1937, Page 4

NORTHERN CHINA.

The latest news trom the Kar East does not make tor the encouragement ot much hope that Sino-J apanese ditierences in Northern China will be easy ot adjustment excepting by military action. Ihe little outpost aft'airs that marked the beginnmg ot the trouble are evidently developing rnto clashes of increasmgly serious character. Japanese troops are pressing southward, apparently in such force as will compel China to face them with something like a correspondmg strength unless she is prepared to give way to Japanese demands as, mdeed, under like menace she has more than once already done. As has been said betore, L'hma 15 probably much better prepared now than at any previous time to olirr arrned resistance to japanese encroachment. At the same time, however, there must be very grave doubts as to her ability, at the outset at any rate, to withstand any really heavy attack by the well trained, well disciplined, well equipped and thoroughly expenenced hghting torces ot Japan. Once these iatter,became well entrenched, there would be very great dithculty in shiftmg them, despite the great numerical superiority China might brmg to bear. Ihese are considerations that Chiang Kai-shek and his Government cannot but keep m mmd and they may weigh so heavily that even yet some further scheme of compromise may be sought. It may be matter of wonder with some as lo how Japan can lav claim to any nght of military • occupation 111 the Eeiping (Pekm) area, m which the present difhculties have arisen. In this relation it has to be remembered that, at any rate until quite recently, Chiang Kai-shek' s Nanking Government exercised but very scant real control over the northern provinces for which Peipmg, the old Chinese capital, stands as something of a political centre where there was some kind of local Government that bade practical dehance to Nanking. Not so long ago the dilferences between Nanking and Peiping were so great that, under Japanese encouragement, there was very serious prospect that hve ot the Chmese provinces, bordering on Manchukuo, would hive oft and, hke Manchukuo, declare their mdependence of Nanking lt was then, pursuant to understandings reached with the Peipmg authonties, that Japan secured her military tooting m this region. Ihe major scheme ot secession, however, tailed to mature, but there was nevertheless a small section, parts ot Jtiopei and Chahar provinces, which to some extent maintained the movement and set up a species of "hcme rule" under what we hear ot occasionaliy in the cables as the "Chahar-Hopei Political Council," still preservmg more or less tnendly relations with Japan, which was thus enabled to consolidate her position in the Peipmg region. I'o some extent too, this Peipmg Council was then accoraed some measure of recognition by the Nanking Government, which also entered mto compromise understandings with Japan givmg the latter at least some colour of right in adoptmg the attitude she has now assumed. Since then the Peiping authorities have wavered very much m ther allegiance between Nanking and Japan, and, tor all we have heard ot China' s umhcation under him, it would seem that Chiang Kai-shek can place anything but lmphcit reliance on their support. ■