Mar, 29.
Pre-occupation with events in Shanghai has naturally thrown into the background the develop-[ments in the interior, although, from time to time, glimpses of the situation have' been vouchsafed in letters from outport leorrespondents and in telegrams. {In his speech to the Lytton Com-Mnission on Monday Mr. Wang IChing-wei assured his guests that China was anxious to "develop to the fullest possible Jextent her economic resources.' This desire does credit to the Government responsible for it. It would be difficult to cxagge-[rate the difficulties in the way of its practical fulfilment at the moment, Leaving the Shanghai [tragedy and the Manchurian problem out of the picture it is impossible to be confident that ce ditions lend themselves readily' to the view that the Government} jean, at an early date, present that picture of a unified China to which Mr. Wang Ching-wei so feelingly referred. Recent tele-' grams have recorded a definite Government success in Kiangsi but it has been a success which, ito be permanent, must be follo' led_up by sweeping efforts ealculated to rid the southern po tion of that province of the Communists who have so long. dominated it. Along the Yangtze the presence of communist bands is still a feature competing with the beauty of the famous river's scenery for the attention of the traveller, It must be remembered that two American citizens Mr. Bert Nel~ son and Captain Baker are still in communist hands, the former:
captive of many months and the latter made prisoner and jatter the payment of a ransom, retained by a despicable act of treachery. It is assumed th: ductive of results. It must further be assumed that the Gov-lornment have not idly disregard-fed those protests but that. they' simply have not been able to carry out the necessary steps for the recovery of the two Ameri-leans, both carrying out their lawful occupations in the country but both a prey to the Jaw lessness of the communist marauders, This comment is made in no spirit of depreciation of the grievous and additional handicap under which the Government are now labouring as the result of ill-considered aggression on the part of Japan. It has to be put on record by any honest student fof current affairs in China, In the Western provinces, notably in Kansu, where the large Mafhomedan population presents 2 complicating factor, communist bands have terrorised the people. From Shensi comes a_ similar story. "In Honan and Northern Anwhei communist activities are part of the normal life of the inhabitants," While it would, be wrong to suggest that these communists are all of them of the true red breed, it must be freely admitted that communist armic fof no mean training and re sources are carrying out an organized camapaigh and are linked together by a fairly well-established system of communications and propagandist effort. There are the farmers who have turned communists out of sheer [desperation and, on the approach fof a decently organised force, scatter and resume their former fand normal occupations. There-
hope. If only the political leadin ies the Governments est ers at Nanking could be assured of their own solidarity and, 80, could rely simplicity on the conduct of anti-communist campaign, the prospect of gradually restoring the provinces to their proper allegiance to the authorities no-finally directed by the Central Government, this readiness. of the agriculturists to resume their customary placid tolerance of official guidance would be a practical asset of real value. Too often, however, has the peasant) and farmer the greatest difficulty in making up their minds whether the ills they bear from the reds are greater than, those lof a regime which, at any moment, may dissolve before the onslaughts or blandishments of the elements dispersed.
It is hardly necessary to emphasise the fact that the great-lest obstacle to the recovery. of the Government's prestige is the continued existence of the forces lof political intrigue and irreconeilability. In the face of the food disaster, of the Manchurian blow and, now, of the [Shanghai trouble,' linked og all them have been with financial difficulties of the gravest kind, the political leaders of China have seemed to falter in their course. They have had reason be encouraged in the search for unity by: the display, at tical moments, of remarkable political courage and ability, they could only draw inspiration from those almost unexpected ifts and put a stop to the spirit, fof defeatism which refuses to recognise facts and trusts to sity generalities to stave off the div ance of further attacks on precariously seated authority, they would be making a real effort to supply the picture for the frame so eloquently deseril led by Mr. Wang Ching-wet, Perhaps the arrival of the Lytton Commission may assist in this development, Gloomy. reports talk of another civil war, It is better to concentrate on the chances of consolidating politi-feal resources on the basis of the solemn asseverations with which the Commission has been freely presented, If ever a Government, had reason to justify itself by deeds the Chisiese Government to-day were that. It has gained—almost in spite of itself—th definite sympathy of the wor That sympathy is notin the nature of a blank cheque. is a draft. strictly limited unt to the consideration ailable. It can be put to the credit of China's account" but interest on it can be earned only by careful adherence to the principles on the basis of which China hay invoked support of her just claims, This does not imply any cold, detached, dise regard of the difficulties, not all fof them avoidable. It rather is the expression of an earnest sire that Mr. Wang Ching-wei's confident hopes may find in their support the substantial endorsement of events. Over those events China's political leader have considerable influence which, given patience and toler~ Jance by their critics, within and without, will, it is to be hoped, be sagely exercised. The ton-sion of the moment on all sides indicates that the situation, if badly handled whether by China lor by others, may rapidly expand into a crisis of supreme dimen sions. Firmly and quietly tackle ed with devout regard to the importance of the issues ut stake it may conceivably be lifted ow to the plane whereon a real solu tion can be attempted,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.