The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the. West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APPLE 27, 1927. THE POSITION IN CHINA.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the. West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APPLE 27, 1927. THE POSITION IN CHINA.

The situation in China continues all engrossing, and is still without favourable prospects to indicate the happy issue all would desire—a sensible settlement without recourse to war. Events are nevertheless happening, and as a contemporary remarks by far the most encouraging news that has reached the outside world Irom China during the past week is the report of the split in the Nationalist camp. Whatever C'hiang Kai-shek, comman-der-in-chief of the Cantonese forces, may think privately about Bolshevism, he has no intention of allowing it to usurp his authority or introduce an entirely alien element into the Nationalist movement. Ho has therefore virtually declared war on the Communist section of his party. He has transferred his capital to Nanking, and he is said to have demanded the expulsion of the redoubtable -Jacob Borodin, and his associates from China. There is thus a possibility that in a short time Southern China may be freed from the infection which the Soviet Republic has taken such pains to diffuse of late throughout the Eastern world. No less satisfactory is the news from the North, where Chang Tso-lin is preparing vigorously to make headway against Bolshevism. There are rumours that armed Soviet troops, to the number of some thousands, have already found their way into Northern Manchuria, and Chang Tso-Lin| who. whatever else lie may lack, is not deficient either in courage or military experience, is already adjusting his plans to the emergency. The strength of his position lies in the proximity of the Japanese, who have already made great efforts to prevent the Bolsheviks breaking out of Eastern Siberia, and will certainly support the CliTne.se against them if the necessity should arise. Though Chang Tso-Lin is often described as a brigand, there seems to he no doubt about the ascendancy he eniovs in North China, in.fact, his power has recently been compared to the authority wielded by Yuan Shi-kai. the last great dictator of the Chinese. In any case, he has been “a man of war” from his youth up, and he lias already offered to join hands with the Cantonese if they will unite with him to expel Bolshevism from China and let the people of that unfortunate country settle their internal affairs for themselves. Meantime the Powers are reflecting upon the reply vouchsafed to their demands for reparation by Mr Eugene Chen. That astute individual —who, by the way, is a half-caste West Indian Chinese, aiid was originally a British subject—conceived tbe ingenious idea of addressing his dispatch tr the several Powers individually, thereby intending to detach them from each other and induce them to come to terms with China separately. Tin’s manoeuvre has had the worst possible effect upon Chen’s reputation for honesty and straightforward dealing. France, in particular, in spite of its expressed desire to remain neutral, resents the evasive tone of Chen’s Note, and is determined to stand bv tbe other Powers. As to the United States. Chin's brilliant idea of appealing t'n the American people for sympathy against tho action of their own Gorern-