PLOTKARZE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 427, 29 August 1947, Page 7

PLOTKARZE

Y third conversation ranged over many subjects’ that can’t be publicly discussed. I can’t even name or identify the speaker,. though I can say that his travelling has been over the Pacific more than over the Atlantic and that he was more disposed to discuss Asia than Europe. He is not happy about either continent, but thinks that New Zealand’s concern is with Asia first. "Does that exclude America?" I asked him. "No. We are in America’s orbit whether we like it or not. But we all know that. What . most of us forget is that we are also in China’s orbit and India’s." "Has China time to think about other countries?"

"Perhaps not at present, but other countries must remember her millions." "Yes, but the only other country capable of helping those millions just now is the United States, and Americans seem to be approaching the end of their patience in China." "I think they are too, but.the millions will. remain. In the meantime it does appear that the situation is getting desperate, if not quite hopeless. From the outside at any rate it would appear that China is slipping back into something like the old war-lord regime." "Do you feel happier about India?" "Yes, I ‘am very_happy about India at the moment. Nehru looks like a world figure, and if he gets a chance he may give Asia real leadership. But the test of independence has still to come." We did not discuss Indonesia, and when we reached Japan our time was nearly up. In any case, my friend said, Japan is at present fluid. "To talk about Tokio is to talk about Washington, and then before you realise where you are you are talking about -Moscow."