The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1927. THE CHINESE SITUATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1927. THE CHINESE SITUATION.

In modern times nothing has been more complex than the situation in China. The country is a vast one, and in conjunction with Siberia, "hich is part of the Soviet United States accounts for the major portion of Asia. Russian emissaries have been busy for a very long time in China, and the Communist forces established there are very considerable. Air E. S- Little, who was till recently Australian 3 rade Commissioner in Shanghai, is evidently well qualified to speak of China. He had lived there for over forty years, had travelled in the interior through Mongolia and ATanchuria up to the Arctic Circle and down to Tibet. He spoke the language fluently and had even interpreted some of the dialects of the interior for other Chinese. Air Little, speaking recently at Auckland, said that it was incredible that such a complete metamorphosis could have overtaken peaceable and industrious race under the malign influence of <;uch unscrupulous Bolshevik agepts ns

Jacob Borodin and Karakhan. It was impossible for the straight-forward British to understand the tortuous methods of Moscow. At the very time K. rakhan was denying that there was any Russian influence behind the Nationalist movement in the south lie was signing cheques for millions of dollars, and sending instructions to hundreds of secret agents all through China to stir up strife. “I have read these documents both in Russian and Chinese,” said the speaker. In referring to the vastness of China, Mr Kittle said: ‘‘People do not realise that there is in China the enormous population of 500,000,000 people and that it increases by upwards ot 3,000,000 a year,” The upheaval going oil in China, must have far-reaching effects. Human life so far as the native population is concerned, docs not appear to count freely. At the same time it is clear even from the jumble of accounts as to the progress ol events, that great changes are;coinin':

to pass, and the future of China, though ill the melting pot, must still remain a factor in the peace ol the world. For the time being, China is in the hands of the revolutionaries, and nothing is safe nor assured. Regarding the more recent situation, when British troops were rushed to China, Mr Kittle said: ‘‘The British troops arrived in Shanghai last year just in the nick of time to save the lives of the foreign population. Russia had promised the city as a gift to the Nationalists as soon as their forces were victorious and the Europeans were all to lie massacred. Had the arrival of the British been delayed there would have been the most fearful massacre that lias ever happened on Chinese soil.” It would appear no one was

safe. Mr Little said that although ail the foreign missionaries in China, had at the outset, supported the Nationalist movement, all those in the interior had had to Hop for their lives. 'lhe attitude of patience and leniency on the part of the British had been construed by the Chinese as weakness, and they had lost their former respect for the white mail. The Chinese soldier was a mercenary, willing to fight tor whoeved would pay him the most, and many of them had oflered to transfer their allegiance to the British for the rates of pay in that army. There are now reports of Britain giving up her landed concessions. The withdrawal ol British authority must have a notable effect on the situation as a whole. Does it mean that British prestige is declining? Bather do we think it is a case of preparing for eventualities. There are certain * possibilities about the Russianiiig of China which must make Britain think more about her possessions of Asia. The Indian Empire must come lirsl in consideration alien Asiatic problems arise, and that must bo the trend of matters at present. China abuts on India, but with a barrier of mountains which afford something of a natural defence. All the same, Indian interests are paramount. and to have and to hold India against possible developments Britain with so much at stake in India, cannot afford to divide forces to too great an extent. Thou comes into consider.!-

tion the situation affecting the Far Eastern island possessions, and the security of the Pacific itself. Here crops s up the quetion of tile Singapore Base, which at once assumes special import- ,. mice in order to secure naval efficiency in the East. That aspect calls to mind _ the matter of naval strength and the need to make the sea defence sure, so . that with such a contingency looming ahead, naval disarmament should not ho spoken of glibly. Nor is there need to be seriously disturbed if America strengthens her Navy to meet or assist tr to meet any possible developments in the Pacific. So wc see that the whole trend of developments in China lie- . comes matters for international concern. and must realise what stupendous I interests are really at stake while the vast country is in travail, giving birth to the new order of Government, which is to become master of China.