CHINA’S BIG THREE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1932, Page 6

CHINA’S BIG THREE

SCHOLAR, SOLDIER, EXTREMIST

MEN BEHIND THE SCENES

To the Western eye, it may seem that the one dominant factor influencing affairs in China to-day is the military clique, with its bewildering profusion of generals and bandit leaders. Actually, three forces are moving behind the war clouds, sometimes in conflict, sometimes uniting, their movements always uncertain.

Education, militarism and Communism are the forces. They are represented by three men whose names have been prominent in the news—Dr C. C. Wu, Marshal Cliiang Kai-shek, and Mr Eugene Chen, says the Melbourne “Herald.”

The name of Dr Wu came to the fore on the resignatffin of the Presidency of the Chinese RepubhVby Cliiang Kai-shek. In China, the scholar, lias always appeared as a prodigy to the illiterate masses, deemed suitable for any position in the Government, capable of managing all affairs, and competent to judge between right and wrong. It is this geneial esteem for his qualifications which has thrust Dr Wu to the front. EXQUISITE LITERARY STYLE. A blaster of the Chinese classics, lie is equally at home in Western learning. Serving his country’s Foreign Office in Great Britain and at Washington, he was noted for an exquisite style in distpatch writing, both' English and Chinese. His prominence today, in the face of a situation which would seem to favour the extremist and the soldier to the exclusion of all others, i s a tribute to China’s inherent contempt for the military cliques. To the Western mind the character of Cliiang, the soldier, is baffling. H was be who recently gave a lead to tlie rising national anger by telegraphing to all military commanders, exhorting them to light for China’s existence. A month previously lie had resigned from the Presidency, aftei demonstrations against the weakness shown by bis Government in facing the Manchurian situation. Apprenticed as a youth to a merchant, Cliiang escaped from the dull routine of commerce and joined the Chekiang Provincial Army. A natural military talent was improved by study later in Japan and Moscow. He returned to China, fought, and graduated. into banditry. By nature, however he was more of the gentleman crook than the bandit, and be pi esentfy returned t|o constitutional authority as a war lord. " SOFT-VOICED AND DELICATE. Soft-voiced, delicate, and with certain effeminacies in manner, lie is a burn intriguer, shrewd enough to have used Soviet advisers to the full in earlier military campaigns- Last year both he and his wife became Cnristiaus.

iriis collaboration with Russia made him and gave him mastery of all China soutn of the Yellow River. His break with Russia was followed by trouble lor his Nationalist Government, and its recent collapse beiore the clamouring and powerful voice ol the student classes. It remains to he ■ seen if lie is strong enough to reassert his powbr in a greater hour of crisis. Even in such a militarist there are signs of realisation that China’s old insularity is passing. In his speech to the People's Convention at Nanking last year, ("liiang discussed Fascism as a' political system,. dwelt on the world’s economic depression, and described to his audience the prevailing tension in Europe. BITTER TONGUE, VIRULENT PEN Another type of mind that is weaving its influence behind the war clouds is that- of Eugene Chen, formerly Foreign Minister for the Canton Government. He was born a British sub? ject, in Trinidad. He went to his fatherland with a hitter tongue and a gift for virulent political journalism, which landed him in a Peking goal. Here lie recalled his early British associations, and appeared to the British Legation to get him out of his troubles. Years ip exile followed. He spent them—naturally enough—in Russia. He was a -Minister in the Communist Government in,Hankow, whose regime was overthrown by Cliiang Kai-shek, and for that general he has nothing but bitter denunciation. So long as -the Red Peril, with its elaborate and ruthless organisation in China, is a force to be reckoned with, Chen will stand for a dangerous phase of the complex problems in the i'ar East.