FOREIGN AID IN CHINA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1939, Page 4

FOREIGN AID IN CHINA.

A COMPLAINT by the Japanese War Minister (LieutenantGeneral Itagaki) that: “Assistance from foreign Powers is solely responsible for Chiang Kai-shek’s stubborn resistance is of interest chiefly as showing how hard put to it the Japanese are to explain their lack of decisive military success in China. In itself, the War Minister’s assertion of course is absurd. Even in the great battles, in earlier stages of the war, at Shanghai, around Suchow and on the approaches to Nanking and Hankow, Chinese forces lightly armed, though numerous, were pitted against Japanese armies amply equipped with every modern mechanical device, from aircraft, io tanks and artillery. From the outset, the Chinese have exercised their right as a free nation to buy war material from abroad, but their total material equipment is as it has been extremely poor in comparison with that of the Japanese. Some supplies are still reaching China, from Russia, by way of the “back-door road” from Burma, and perhaps over the light railway which, enters her territory from Indo-China. It is well known, however, that in the wonderful fight she is putting up against Japan, China is relying chiefly upon the valour of her own soldiers and upon the development of her own industries in areas which are beyond the reach of effective Japanese aggression. The Japanese War Minister’s complaint is that of one who feels unable, or is unwilling, to face the facts. Now that she has been granted loans by the United States and Britain, China may be able to draw more freely on foreign aid than in the recent past, but there is every indication that even if foreign aid were cut off completely, she would continue to oiler a stubborn resistance to the Japanese invaders for an indefinite time to come. Some of the statements made by General Itagaki wear a decidedly sinister appearance. For example, he said, as he is reported, that: — The commanders have ordered the troops to protect foreign lives and property and even to sacrifice strategic advantages, but the soldiers deplore concrete evidence of foreign assistance to the Chinese. This might easily he understood as an incitement to the Japanese troops to attack foreign lives and property, with the idea of discouraging foreign aid to China. It may be hoped however, that the Japanese will not resort to these tactics. General Itagaki said that Japan did not. intend deliberately to sever diplomatic relations. It seems likely enough that Japan will do what she can'to avoid any such severance if only because it would be likely to lead to trade, and other economic action against, her which she would find vastly more damaging to her interests than any foreign aid. now rendered to China.