The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1922. HOSTILITIES IN CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1922. HOSTILITIES IN CHINA.

Apparently the time has arrived, for another outbreak of hostilities between the rival Governments in China, though it is hardly likely the fighting will create much interest outside official circles. Af-

ter 267 years of sovereignty, during which the Chinese were woefully oppressed by the tax-gather-ers, a revolution in the early part of 1912 brought about the dethronement of the five-year-old Emperor, Hsuan-Tung, the last of the Manchu dynasty. Since then the country has become the happy hunting ground of ambitious and none too scrupulous rulers. Conditions in China lend themselves to upheavals of a spasmodic and indefinite kind, z The fact is the Chinese are so constituted by temperament and inheritance that they cannot readily absorb either the purport or effect of changes. In the mass they are mere docile machines to do the bidding of their rulers, and it is only the comparatively few of the enlightened members of the community to whom is left the task of striving for dominance, and, as far as possible, keeping China for the Chinese. It seems curious that a country, whose inhabitants number nearly three hundred and fifty million, should be like a rudderless ship, but such is the case, and the special attention which was given to Chinese problems by the Washington Conference .affords some idea of the position China occupies in the eyes of the nations. For many years past there have been indications that China was awakening from her lethargy and inertia, though these flashes of activity have speedily disappeared. All things considered, it is probably as well that, China has not followed in the footsteps of Japan and become conscious as well as confident of her strength. So long as the country is rent asunder by rival factions there will be little, if any, hope of a permanent foundation being laid for future greatness. The first essential step is that which will lead to a common object whereon the people as a whole can concentrate. Once consolidation is accomplished, under wise, energetic and uneorrnpt government, it will only be a matter of time and evolution when China will take her place among the Great Powers. It may be that the Russo-German alliance will become a factor towards thoroughly awakening China to take her part in Eastern affairs. It might suit Germany’s aims to secretly take China under the wings of the Prussian eagle, to key her up to concert pitch on the pretence of making her sufficiently strong to resist Japan or any other Power, and China may be astute enough to take all she can get with a view to future operations on her own account. Since the Genoa Conference met the aspects of Eastern affairs has changed very materially as the result of the Russo-German Pact, and it is necessary to have an extended vision in order to gauge future possibilities. There is probably no immediate danger, yet even those of ordinary intelligence can readily grasp the fact that, sooner or later, China will have to be reckoned with as an important factor in international affairs. However little heed may be given to the present internal struggle in China it may yet prove of very great consequence, and should, therefore, be watched with more than the ordinary interest which attaches to Chinese troubles. The duty of the moment is the adequate protection of the Legations and keeping the railway open to the sea. That should not be a difficult task, but no precautions should be neglected. The accident of a moment may involve action by the Powers, and there is no forecasting how far that action may lead.