SITUATION IN CHINA.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1922, Page 4

SITUATION IN CHINA.

(By T. •'Jr Henry)

It is said with wisdom that no mere visitor to China ,is "competent to express any "valid opinion upon the political situation in that ’strange land. But even a visitor 'may grtthef" fronrthe lips of residents of long experience the matured results of their continuous observation'. It was this source I, therefore, sought for instruction when re- 1 cently visiting 1 the country. I .had the j opportunity or meeting several highly j educa'tdd Chinese, men with University ! degrees, won either in England or in j the United States, Who spoke our language with but little foreign accent, and with impeccable grammati# proprietyparid ' I'‘ also conferred with Europeans and Australians who had spent years 'in official positions. My object' was to obtain a succinct report upon things political to-day. Both Chinese and European authorities frankly informed me that there is so much secrecy, such imperfect means of ’disseminating correct intelligence, so much deliberate mendacity in sohie quarters, ‘so many personal Rivalries and ambitions’ in high places, that evert a ; Chinese citizen who endeavours to follow the tortuOus course of events "from day to day, dfteh"finds himself bewildered as to how matters' really stand. But out of the kaleidoscopic senes th'ere appear a '■ few ! conditions which may be accepted as concrete. In the‘ first ‘place I Was told by all I interviewed that the North of China and the South—the great Yangtse Kinng River HOing the dividing line—were two hostile areas, each of which contends that it is the real Republic, while the other is spurious. The ostensible capital of the Republic of China is the historic city of Peking. Unfortunateliy, Pelting is situated in the.far North. This tends to make it an isolated town, whose influence fails to permeate the whole of so vast a country as China. It is absolutely out of touch with the greater part of the areas which lie to the south of the Yangtze. f • GOVERNMENT BY MILITARY j ’ : JUNTA.

Since the deposition of the Mnnchusj and the consequent formation of a Republic the reins of government have more arid more fallen into the hands of a junta of military adventurers, several of whom are little more than glorified bandit chiefs. But even this, coterie'has not been harmonious. There have been various feuds between its more prominent members, and rival leaders have even waged war on each oilier. A year or two ago General Tuan was practically supreme, hut Generals Wu and Chang Tso Lin combined to tie feat him. At the present moment Tso Lin is probably the most powerful mail in China. .The deposed heir to the Manciiu throne is still resident in Peking, arid is under the guardianship of the- Government.. He is kept in seclusion, and foreigners are nil permitted to enter the palace and grounds, but he is treated with deference. There exists a royalist party who would recall the Manclius ; but this party is small and makes little headway, and cannot be regarded as of serious import. Athongh many speak with regret of the old Manciiu .days, and say that, after all, they were better governed and squeezed less, yet this feeling is more abstract than concrete, and is not likely to lead to a royalist reaction. DR SUN YAT SEN.

The great leader of the south is the celebrated Dr Sun Yat Sen. For about 25 years he has • been a stormy p.'trel, and was long a- fugitive either in Japan or Europe or America, on account of his anti-Manchu sympathies. He took a prominent part in the revolution, and was chief of the Nationalist party in the south. Later, after spending some time in Japan, and being backed by Japanese .influence, he returned and made Canton his headquarters. .More recently ho lias completely repudiated all Japanese sympathies. ‘ In 1917 he assembled a Parliament in Cantiin, and declared it to be the only body truly representative of the Republic! The .North naturally refused to concede this. Sun thereupon declared South China to he an independent Republic. Civil war followed, and has gone on spasmodically ever since. It appears to resemble the old civil wars in England, inasmuch as the masses of the people go in in their ordinary way all the time, leaving the fighting to those who wish to take part. At the present time Sun is preparing an army to march on Peking—a' fairly ambitious undertaking.' The Peking authorities on tlieir part are making preparations to give him a warm reception if ever he gets so far. The foreign hanks are incidentally building vast and powerful safe deposit vaults in the European Concessions, so that their cash and documents will be under the guardianship of European soldiers. As for the Chinese soldiers, they are mainly little more than armed coolies. They are indifferently drilled, poorly equipped, and in default of regular pay some corps from time to time mrfke forays on inoffensive villages to obtain the means of sustenance. Nevertheless, there is quite a development of military ardour among the poor class youth in the Southern districts. Many are leaving pacific employment, or the dragging of rickshaws to enlist. I was myself told by one, “Soon I go to he a soldier.”

WILL CHINA REUNITE? Notwithstanding the"' popularity of Dr Sun in the South, and his repudiation of the North, his real aim is said to be the reunion of his country under one stable republican. Government! Re hopes to bring this about by driving the present allegedly corrupt and inefficient military junta from Peking. Probably fie would like the capital of a United China to be in the great city of Canton, as his main strength is there. Canton boasts that she is the chief centre of tight. and leading, and that “what Canton tihinks to-day China will think to-morrow.” Rut it is recognised that Canton is just as far to * the south of the true Centre of gravity as Peking is' to the north. There is a feeling thjit in tlie happy days when China is reunited the capital will be removed to Nanking—long ago the capital—or to Hangkow, which is; splendidly situated. Educated Chinese deplore the weakness of the sentiment for national solidarity. Almost every province, and in some cases parts of provinces, .have different colloquial dialects. A Chinaman is as much a stranger in

speech to a fellow-countryman as is •rin Englishman to a - frenchman. Despite this" thereas a .perceptible- growth of-national sentiment, an aspiration of “China for^the’Chinese.” 'As knowledge of the s -oiitgide 'world penetrates to the iritieH 017' a a travel bebcimes more 'common, the ' younger Chinese are realising .that the weakness of the common bond of blood relationship has allowed their country to become a prey to the exploitation of other peoples. .Therefore, a } dread of further interference " from "‘other nations is slowly ’welding the Chinese together. Japan | is" ever in the background, looming j ominously in their imaginations. The alert and aggressive islander is looked upon with none too friendly eyes. Even the European nations are not beloved. 1 Perhaps the, least "disliked at heart is ' America; • , - AMERICAN POLICY- j That enterprising country , is making strenuous efforts to persuade the. .Chinese that America is a true and unselfish friend. The refusal to accept the Boxer indemnity, which every European nation involved rushed to scoop, undoubtedly had a psyschological effect which has benefited the Americans. The foundation of colleges in China, and of scholarships in -America, and the treatment in America of ('hinese students as welcome Quests, 'further help towards the desired end. The Y.M.C.As, which I visited certainly impress the Chinese with the position and power pf America. They are splendid buildings, wijdi extensive gymnasiums, reading-rooms, rriusic rooms, and all other appurtenances for "recreation of mind and body. But they are ostentatiously ’American 'from basement to roof.';' The Americah endeavours'to imdvcss the native witlF'fjhe’ ’belief that lie is his true friend, and as lie does not" adopt' ‘the ' supercilious mariner of ‘•which 'fnosf-Britons apparently find' it ''impossible to divest tlieriiselves when in oilier peoples, lie finds it caiy to score. Notwithstanding this, I wa s told by old ‘ European 'residents ' tluit the antLforeign feeling was rarely ever greater thair at ’present’, and that its leaders are‘ mainly returned Chinese students who have ‘ studied all ' the learning of tlie 'West. " I made' inquiries as to the esteem in which Australian goods, apart from pn ni ary products, "arc lie Id in China, r ivas toki; that they are acceptable and that undoubtedly Australia «an find good openings.- Mr Little, the Trade Cotrrmissiorier, is assiduous in our' interests. But the importance of meeting the' peculiarities of the situation iri China was stressed. For iuslance, biscuits and jam innde in Australia arc popular. But it is asserted that flic manufacturers expect the Chinese buyer to understand English. They will not trouble to print labels in Chinese. The Americans make no such oversight. They not only print their labels in Chinese, hut issue pamphlets and leaflets in that language, and when' such are illustrated, the illustrations show Chinese enjoying the wares they are invited to buy.