TROUBLES OF CHINA.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 September 1919, Page 2

TROUBLES OF CHINA.

‘ DEPLORABLE CHAOS. I SHANGHAI, August 13. 1 Kung Hsin Chang, the Acting—Prelmier and Minister for Finance of ‘China, in the course of an interview; strongly advocated international financial aid to replace the exclusive Japanese assistance on which Chin-t has recently relied. Kung considered that an interimtional scheme would give China a fail‘ deal, and fair opportunities of her own. ' “While the great Powers were ab--sorbed in war,” he said, “China was compelled to seek financial aid from Japan alone. This is now unnecessary. “Unfortunately China’s firrunees have been devoted greatly to militarv purposes, and it has become almost as {expensive to disband the armies as to :maintain them. Thus the Whole probllem is financial. ‘ “The cost of the disbanéffnen: of one force near Pekin was £2 10/ per lman. _ Hence you can judge how ex-'p<-nsive the whole process would be_” China’s refusal to sign the peace treaty was evidence of her detel'mina.tion no longer to allow Japan disproportionate concessions. Kung was optimistic that north and ‘south China would be reunited. The lpcople, he said, were already united in ‘sentiment and constitutional diflicul—~tieg~ alone remained. He was also {optimistic that militarism would be lrt-.lnoVecl if financial aid were obtained. “The wealth and industry of China have progressed despite all disturbances,’.’ he said. “China has ample ‘security for all loans, and she will ialso greatly develop her manufactures in addition to her vast natural productions.” Kung expressed his confidence that ‘China would ultimately shake off fllr: lexcessive Japanese influence, but he lscemed to he must .~.nxi-ous. for early [financial aid.

i‘ China’s prsent disorganisation is ]doplorable, almost incredible, in fact military governors commanding largo armies enjoy power in defiance of the President and the Government, whicl-' is almost without‘ "money. Forty per cent. of the Chinese revlcnue is spent for military purposes_ Japan last year lent China £24.000,~ ‘OOO, partly to the militarist leaders. The actual result has been the mainltenance of civil war. and the creation iof local military tyrannies, in which qdisorclerly soldiers overran the prolvinces. The Chinese militarists are closely associated with Japan, or are under Japanese control, but in recent months the influence of the militarists has notably weakened. Kung’s a_nti~military opinions are fl significant, he being a member of the Anfu Club, a political group which {has supported the militarists, and [which has been regaraed as largely pro—Japanese.