July 11.
When stock is taken, from time to time, of the situation in China, it is difficult to be dogmatic and precise. Financially the Gov-lornment. is unable to command the confidence which implies an ability to expend large sums on vital measures of reconstruction. Money is obtained for hand-to-mouth schemes of internal defence. Provinces by the exercise lof some remarkable qualities of endurance and administrative ingenuity seem to avoid the extremes of catastrophe. Other jaraas submerged for many months in what is not unfairly [described as chaos somehow seem to keep their afflictions to themselves. The Government. itself, pledged to a self-denying toler:
mee of its political opponents, is charged with various defects. Yet it avoids the disasters so freely prophesied on its account. The skilled observer is often handicapped by too extensive a knowledge of the history of the recent past. He is apt to attach to certain' manifestations the same importance as clung to them a few years ago when cer-{tain political nostrums were in ithe zenith of their attraction to what then passed for public opinion. Meanwhile the situation conceals two factors of diametrically opposite—quantities. First of all there is a def-finite process of deterioration in the rural economics of the country. Secondly there is the steady, if' negative, influence of the inlerease in' administrative experience gained by men in the service of the Government. War-erdism, in a sense, may still Jexist, though cimoutaged. Yet paradoxically there is a greater h-resistance to the dominance of a purely militarist policy. The (Government may rest in full Imeasure on the cautious dis} tions of General Chiang ishek. It is careful, however, to make its pronouncement through the lips of its civil ai thorities. So Mr. 'T. V. Soong is fable in Europe to' speak as a Finance Minister on deputation. Mr. Wang Ching-wei holds the fort at Nanking and delivers himself of periodical comment taries which are not so_vividly fat variance with the facts as such commentaries have been in the past. The Minister of the, Interior makes a journey to. Hongkong to expound the conditions under which the Tangku Truce was arranged. It will not, be assumed that he has neces: sarily won over the dissidents of Canton. He has, however, shown, the Government at Nanking to be aware of a responsibility for liustifying its policy even to inlveterate opponents.
'The Government has all slong admitted that, its most serious problem is the banditry pre-aleut in. large tracts of territory. 'This banditry takes the communist label and, in so doing endorses communist' propaganda jin greater or less degree as its purpose is better served. With breakdown in the rural economy of a district the bandit finds good scope for his trade. If lit suits him to call himself a Jcommunist and to make uze of ithe paper organisation available from communist agents he is ready enough to do so. That does not radically alter his methods or his mamers. He is a lbattener on the peasant and exploiter of the enfeebled resources of the area which he jafficls. "If he can make hay while the sun of local' rivalry shines—as in Seechuen and the borders of Southern Kiangsi—so much the better from his point lof view. General Chiang Kai-shek has had a difficult task in South Kiangsi. His forces have met with stout opposition and have experienced the ups and downs of a campaign against seasoned guerrilla bands. It is believed that of late definite progress has been made. The bandits of South Kiangsi have been put on the defensive. General Chen South have been useful.in pre-Venting the usual escape of harassed bandits into Kuantung. management. The loft ence be called capable stage. jovernment's tolerance is accordingly test-led to a point of extreme ge be said but it is obvious that theleral cnenc Eresumably, Gen-the moment little more can jerosit and Government cannot afford to|sufficiently good terms with relax this effort which General General Chiang Kai-shek to Chiang Kai-shek has been so perjatrive at a proper assessment of sistently directing. Meanwhile in Szechuen the incursions of what otherwise would be a pain-bandits from that red stronghold ful diversion. It is indeed possible that the controversy: with fin southern Shensi have again raised serious anxieties. To the Marshal Feng Vu-hsiang will end itself to solution on similar unfortunate dissensions between: the various generals in Szechuen ines. Marshal Feng is, however, of notoriously simple tastes and the bandits owe much of their immunity. That point has been it is mot so easy to believe that readily grasped by Ho Lung now hhis escapades can be placidly discus that he once more has found d after the soothing appl ication of a good di Hupeh too hot for him, Although inner. The Government probably feels that the gravity of Szechuen's plight generally it is keeping direction jean hardly be neglected in view lof the gross exactions which even if the frequent occurrence distracting demonstration have resulted in the taxation of tends to give its enemies cause the people for nearly to bl ahead, it would be rash to deduce from recent events an immediate' prospect of further threats to the Middle Yangtze. It
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.