This month's number of "Oriental JAffairs" of developments in China during the past year gives an interest jing and complete review which is exceptionally well presented. Amongst {nancial articles is one dealing with the financial crisis and another with the murder of the Rev.J.C. and Mrs. Stam in which the writer suggests that {twill furnish an impetus—if be needed-—to the relentless proation of the anti-Red campaign the Central government. The article "It should also convince those Chinese who are' disposed "to regard A fortnightly journal, "The Peo-[ple's Tribune" published in Shanghai by the China United Press, makes a further advance in the New Year. Tt has increased in bulk, while retain ing the usual size of ils pages, and it has broken new ground by includ~ ing. well-produced photographs as attractive introductions to its letterpress. Mr. Tang Leong-li's editorship conducts the journal in close accord with the views of the Government at Nanking and it has frequently been a medium for the exposition of the policy of that Government. Thus the latest issue begins with Mr. Wang. Ching-wel's New Year's message. A new feature headed "Sense and Nonsense" enables the Editor to discourse pleasantly on minor topics of con~ troversy. This journal has provided one topic in that its occasional publication of "Improbabilities" has amusement and evoked the quite acceptable retort that "improbabilities" can be found In Europe as well as Asia. Of special Interest is Dr. Hu Shih's review of the achievements of the Chinese Republic. Dr. Hu Shih describes him. self as an "optimist in the sea of depression." He sagely observes that "Revolution is revolution." He discerns the influence of the Hsin Hai Revolutionary ideas in some of the progress mede, He rejoices that the overthrow of a corrupt dynasty in 1911 as enabled China to lay the foundations of a new nation. But he notes that the Revolution is not yet Jover and much has to be done before the nation can be thoroughly reinvigorated. The issue contains an ex cellent review of 1984 from the point of view of Chinese politics and. to hark back to the "Sense and Non many. tasks Chinese Government."
An article entitled "General know-Tedue of China" effectively draws attention to the woeful ignorance amonsat foreign school-children of the country in which they are living. The first impression on reading the article must, naturally, be one of amusement, for the "howlers" which fare perpetrated are most laughable. But on reflection it has to be admitted that they Indicate not only a com-Jolete ignorance of the country, but even, in at least one case, of its very geography. Of course, a movement hi {ft already afoot to remedy that state of affairs, and foreism children in some schools are being taught the Tanguage.. Tt fs somewhat late in the day, but {f the recently existing state of affairs educational in this respect, "are even now corrected it at least indicates a fuller realization of responsibilities on the part of the schoo! authorities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.