CHINA’S NEEDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1921, Page 4

CHINA’S NEEDS.

THE WAY OUT.

11l any attempt to olitain a grip of a subject one must first get down to the . biggest aspect of it. In setting out to ' secure a comprehensive view ol China and Chinese affairs one must begin by trying to realise that China’s position to-day is due solely to the fact that there is an absence of that unity which is essential to the progress of any nation. For years past, China has been torn against herself. In the last days of the monarchical regime, when the Him press Dowager was the romantic central figure in the empire, we find that the forces of progress were at work to a disturbing degree. In order to keep the country at some semblance of peace, reforms were promised; but those promises never saw fulfilment. On the tragic death of the Emperor and Etnpiess Dowager, in 1 SitJS, Prince Tuan, who was appointed Regent for the infant ascendant to the throne, tried with the help of that strong man Yuan Khili-kai to avert the threatening storm of disruption. Court intrigue ami reactionary influences succeeded in dismissing Yuan from oilier, and the patience-exhausted reformers broke out into the open rebellion ol 1!*11, that led to the establishment of a Republic, the flight of Tuan, and the hope that at last China had turned the corner of procrastination. The world at large heralded the ehaugc with acclamation and sav. the long-awaited opportunity arrive when China, unified umlei a democratic system of government, could apply all hef powerful resources to the task ol building up a country worthy of her industrious people. Those hopes have not been realised. Political groups, more , once: tied with their own aggrandisement, have been struggling one against the ether for office, public moneys have been spent in raising armies that now hang like a millstone round the neck of a depleted Tieasiiry. powerful Tuchuns arc openly delving the central authority, insurrection against ..the Peking partv is open in t.hc southern and central provinces, and China is a distrained country nigh on the verge ol hank- ' rtiptcy.

China sorely needs the help ol the outside world in order to tackle the ptohlcms she has created. Let the nations responsible lor establishing world peace abandon recriminations and mistrust. Snell will avail them nothing. A now spirit must he brought to Iwnr

the spirit of forcliearanee and conciliation. China must he made lo realise that it is the des.iic ol t c Powers to begin anew oil a basis ol generusily and trust. \\ ith the loitiit•nming conference at Washington the | door of opportunity stands open to all. It Stands „|ieii to China to accept, ami it vmnds ojten to the Pictets Lo oiler, "j !o- idea of a tmiiit d China must precede tile idea of a peaceful Pacilic. he- ■ i.iiisc the lall-ci is "holly contingent. ! on the former. The i-oittcrcin-e is ostensibly meeting to settle the rillestion i.j disai matnent, hut let us first consider why it is that the cpu-stimi of a i maun.cuts arises in the Pacilic. whirn .should 1.0 the most pacilic cellin' ol the wo; Id In-day.. Why is it thftt Japan and America aro arming themacives, aml why is it that liiitain has been wiving such serious thought lo her bar KasU-iii naval pmblem 'f Is it bccaii'C oil'll,.i o| these countries stands to hint tacked. or stands to have any of itpossessions seized 'i No. It is because they are individually jealous ol cadi other’s activities in China, In-cause they talk about the "t l[n-n Door” ami s|*spect Others of violating it; heeause they have commercial interests in a unity which is at the mercy of any nnsci iipnlniis money-lender. These tilings arc often spoken of, hut 1 l ev are the fundamentals ol the problem ol the Pacilic. And President Hauling, interpret mg tin- spirit ol arbiliaiion ami peace so mandesl in the will Id to-day, has invited those couni, ic-. iciget her with France, to a con-ic-n-ace to talk things ovci. It is an op,port unity lor the mingling of can,l,,n, will, -lati-siiiatiship, an npp.oitun11so rich ill pnssihilit ii s that it should mu in- sipiaudi-rcd '■> the lollies o! diplomatic camniillage. \ml thus it is Licit we conn- Lo the ,1-ntial point ariiunil which the Conler- - cm. ,- m st work, instead of conlinu--1., . system of watchful distrust 11.. I'l.u.ws must strive for agreement t do- , iinimon action in assisting Chiu:, mil of the helplessness and cult--1 fusion that give i is-,- to their ow n t roilhles. 11, |W much heller would it

I,i' it tltito wore unity of purjiosi* linin'|i, jn| in Cliiini tinin tin' "onllict of purposes wliirli cxi-ts to-day.' C liinn ni’i-ils money to ln'ln disband her troops sin' i icnil s tin- nmi'n I support of nil ill,' 1 ’o wits inU'il'std! to give Imr constitutionally fK'i-t in | odicials power to

bandits, to Iniilil roads anil railways mill inn Imr pnlilii- services in an el-lii-i'iit nninimr. to opi'ii tip facilities for trading. and to wine out present delits. Tim Consortium awaits opportunity to lend all tlm financial aid necessary the in Uiruationn 1 financial machinery is all tlmro now waiting for the "liarante,. that money will he wisely spent not s<|iian<leicd. That guarantee ean

only iiiiile hy an agreement hetween the Powers to pool their efforts ill settling China on her feel. China would welcome the opportunity. lieeause . .it will make legitimate and honest their dealings with this wonderfully potential country. And the peoples of the world would weTeonm the settlementbeeanse iL would mean Urn aelievenient of the purpose for whieli tlm lonfereuee is licing ealled—the sweeping way of the necessity to maintain armaments hotli costly and dangerous. Opportunity has kuocUed loudly many times in recent history: it. has never knocked more insistently than it does today. Hongkong, August 10.