"War or Peace" the Editor of the Nowt-Cumwa Dany News"
Si—The threat of war on a large scale is growing between China and Japan, China's" continued Inter~ hnecine warfare and charlie disunity invited Japanese encroachment. From Manchuria to Jehol, from Jehol 10 Charhar and Hopeh, Japan's conquest of China has been' progressing with alarming facility and at terrible pace. However, thanks to this very external aggression, China's leaders, seeing the imminent danger to themselves. and their country, begin to forget their ast grudges' against one another and are now shaking hands in real earnest. The Chinese people, hitherto apathetic and self-centred, are now showing signs of unmistakable patriotic enthusiasm. 'They'
Feadily to the call of military train-Ing for the defence of their country times of emergency. They con tribute freely to the purchase of aeroplanes to be presented to their great leader and "generalissimo the occasion of his 50th birthday. 'They are no longer' bombastic and vociferous; but are, replacing words with actions in their determination to win for their country freedom and honour and glory.
Japan's aggression has now reached a point where her further advance will meet with China's" opposition. and grim opposition at that. Using the recent killing of Japanese citizens and bluejackets as a pretext, Japan said to be demanding of China the autonomy of the northern provinces, the stationing of troops in the Yang-{ze "Valley, economic ¢o-operation with undefined terms and the censoring of Chinese textbooks to stamp out anti-Japanism, It is said that against these demands from Japan, the Chinese Government brought forth some counter-demands. Whatever these counter-demands or counter-requirements may be, one can see that Japan is not going to have everything as she pleases from now on. With tunity among her leaders and with the support of the Chinese people, the Chinese Government is now eonselous of her own strength. She will fight defensive war against foreign eneroachment if she is forced 10: do so!
The Chinese people are most peace-loving in the world. It is our heart's desire to live at besee with the world in general-and with our island neigh-hour in particular. In the face of Our neighbour's continued encroachs ment, we have so far maintained our amfeable relations with her although with tears behind our eyes. But it clearly impossible for us to yield forever. The more we yield, the more our neighbour becomes insatiable. This Is not the way to obtain Pence for China is possible only if we put ourselves in a position to protect ourselves against foreign encroachment. We must be prepared to wage a war of defence if necessary, We cannot agree to give up what Jupan hag snatched from us by the force of might. Hopeh, Charhar, Jehol and Manchuria: these are our provinces and the inhabitants living therein our brethren. "We cannot be-Heve that these brethren, of their own accord. have seceded or are woing to secede, from us. The so-called autonomy has rather been forced upon them against their will. Can we be so selfish and heartless as {o concur in Japan's demand for thei: subjection in order to obtain for ourselves a momentary respite from the force of pressure?
is preposterous for Jupan to demand of China the stationing of troops in the Yangtze Valley. grossly unjust and unreasonable. On the one hand, Japan forbids China to send military forces to Eastern Hopeh and to the environs of Shanghai, #l-though these are still acknowledged Chinese territory. On the other hand, Japan presumes to ask that her troops be sent to all strategic points in the Yangtze Valley. Japan's intention is clear. She will never rest until she hhaz put the whole of China into her pocket. Must China submit without one determined struggle for her own Geliverange?
China should be only too willing to yo-operate with Japan economic ally for mutual benefit.. And" then, Ching should blame herself more than Japan for the present state of affairs. But for Japan's aggression the Chinese militarists might coneelvably be still fighting merrily their Perpetual war among themselves at the expense of the Chinese people. We must even be grateful to Japan for teaching us such an impressive lesson. Even now the Chinese people should not entertain any thoughts of Anti-Sapanism, far less teaching stich malignant doctrine t9 our young students. Hale breeds hale and will result in evil for all concerned. Let lus be ready to shake hands "with Japan as soon as she acknowledges Sur authority in our own territory, We will not ask at once for the return of Jehol and Manchuria, We agree that these provinces may receive considerable benefit" from Japan's temporary guardianship; but we require that Japan recognize our Fights "in these provinces and that, sooner and later, these provinces must be given back to us, Shall there be war or peace between China and Japan? ' Peace is the devout hope of all; while war [will drag the peoples of both nations intense suffering and mutual destruction. There is every reason for China and Japan to live together 2s ood neighbours and friends, Both of us have erred in the past; let that past be forgotten and forgiven. Let us forsake the principles of narrow-minded nationalism: let the Chinese Kuomintang cease its eries of antly imperialism and build its foundation
let the boycott of Japanese goods international love and good-will; stop; let the Japanese statesmen cease o plan for the conquest of China; let the Japanese people place trust in China and China's earnest desire for friendship. With God interven Ing, peace, everlasting peace, may yet be possible. But should Japan Insist on war. the Chinese people will oppose might with might, Let it not be said that the Chinese people are cowards!
Shanghai, Oct. 1
"ro.2"s letter is published because of its generat desire to promote con-citation, but It should Be noted that the demands and counter-demands to which it refers are ofliialy declared to be imaginary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.