In the second place, foreign intervention, unless backed by overwhelm ming force, would be defeated by a political boycott beside which the Canton effort of 1925 was as a mouse to a lion. Politially speaking the Powers, in the cireumstances of to-day, could not govern fan unwilling China, and those who believe they could' simply do not know what has happened to the world in general since 1914. It is often said, to be sure, that a Division of Guards could march through China from Canton to Peking. No doubt they could! But, at the end of their victorious march, they would' have left as much impression, behind them as a foot, when raised, leaves on wet, send.
As for the third point, those who believed in the possibility of united action by the Powers in pursuit of a policy of unlimited liability, such as intervention must inevitably be, may be advised to study the public opinion ani the official attitude of London, Washington and Tokyo. Japan is playing her own games Washington and London seem to have some common ground of principle, but do not act harmoniously; and in the last resort, the British Government is no firmly committed to the policy of December that inter-Yention of the kind proposed is out of the question.
What remains? Let us first rid ourselves of the terminology of the past. "Intervention," "Tutelage "Foreign Control"—words such as these, implying the will of a syperior Power infposed on an inferior, must be expunged from the voeabul ary of our relations with China, Sir Austen Chamberlain himself told the Powers a year ago that they must "expressly disclaim any intention of forcing foreign control upon an unwilling China." But foreign aid, requested by a willing China, not' to protect foreign interest' but primarily to recreate Chinese sovereignty and to promote Chinese prosperity, is very different thing. In the past the Treaty Powers have acted in China as a group self-interest. With only ional honourable exception, they have never placed the interests of China first; and their method has manifestly failed to promote Chincge interests, or, in the long run, their own. It is time to take a new course.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.