Nanking to Eschew Any More Expensive Military Campaigns IN view of the conclusion of the Shanghai "Agreement, the course of events in Chinese polities becomes of special interest. "The North-China Herald" was able on May. 10 to brain from a member of the National Government some illumi-Rating views on this subject. Exceeding frankness characterised the interview. Dealing first with the relations between the Central Government and the provinces, it was pointed out that the policy of swift centralisation had been necessary for the Purpose of re-organising and consolidating the Government's Position, It had inevitably tended to strain relations, however, 4nd now the time had come to reconsider the lines adopted.
The keynote of the new policy would be that of conciliation. This was essential to the avoidance of civil war which no-one wanted. So the Central Government would probably take the view that, if certain provinces or provincial groups were inclined to adopt a particularist policy, there should be no attempt 0 coerce them. By refusing to embark on elaborate military operations, the Government would be conserving its resources and run no risk for military action on a scale sufficient to shake the Government's own position could not be contemplated by any of its potential adversaries.
'The re-organisation of the' internal machinery within the areas of which the Government had undisputed control would enable the administration to rid itself of the distraction caused by friction with the outer ring of the provinces. In due time, St would conceivably create a position which would impress on those recalcitrant areas the value of closer ce-operation.
In short, the Government had come to the conclusion that the consolidation of the country in the political sense would be best achieved by abandonment of any idea of using force to overcome opposition, Concentration on road construetion of the, practical, as opposed to the "paper" variety, is to be an important feature of the Government's programme, the Government leader continued, ' Within a few weeks the, road under construction between Shanghai and Hangekow is expected to be completed. Another is made between Nanking and. Wul The tea area is to be tapped by a oad from Wuhu to Hweichow which will be finished in twelve months if All goes well, Parallel with the for the abolition of the system whereby the soldiers look to their respective generals. rather than to the National Government for their maintenance and discipline.
The policy of the Government will be o take the Shanghai Agreement a3 the only possible solution Of the recent difficulties with Japan of which everyone is aware, Funds in Shanghai given the eircumatances are to be earmarked for the rehabilitation of the war-ravaged areas in Kinngeu. The iden is to sad Government's Tailway a road from Shanghai, to Nanking "is projected. Shanghai tical recognition will be connected with" Hangchow of facts as they are. Although the By motor road, with, a ferry ae Kuomintang and fnghong. In Kensu, Sian is to be been open to eriti inked up with Lanchow, thus make thee it will be seriously menaced dour days instead of twenty. More ing that journey, accomplishable in still stands as the only organised party in China, and to replace it fands are to be placed atthe dis-such is impossible. "It should be ossal of the rond construction an possible, however, to readjust Thorities in Kans" in order to ims with better' regard for the: facilitate the opening up of the oil Government's position. In\ the fields, from which it is hoped under course of the next few months the arrangement' with commercial Legislative Yuan and. the Censor-Panies, to, bring oil by. pipeline. ship Yuan will be thrown open to Thus oh "obviously productive" the elected representatives of nondertakings—there are gold mines in party groups. It is proposed to set west, Kansu—the Government will 50 per cent. of the seats in enileavour to spend money. A loop each of those Yuans to such groups will be constructed from Sian the group franchise being more Tungking with the dual object of appropriate to the present state of Preventing famine and opening up Chinese political machinery.
The area affected.
Any form of purely democratic industries are to be assisted. The representation is out of the ques-silt' trade will come firsts it is proposed immediately to abolish the extion because the people as a whole are not acquainted ich er, duties and tp clear the way stitutions, The so-called peri new crop by, granting sul tutelage has only two or three sidies at the rate of Tis, 100 a bale years to, run and "whether you Tike it or not", emphatically declared the ing. overseas This "will cost the to, the low prices which has been leader, "if the Kuomintang were to be abolished there would be noth-Government. Tis, 2,500,000 and the effort will provide the first example veen China and complete programme which seeks Of direct assistance given to a Chi therefore to give the substance of hose industry. Moreover the quality democratic government by genuine-'Of the sible will be enhanced through the improvement of the eggs and ly throwing open the Legislative and censorship Yuans, during the in-educational work for Ube tele terrognum, and at the same time to In onder to organise the army press forward with the task of pre-on a sound basis a big reduction of aration for the Constitutional Ressons of the recent hostilities will erzonnel will be attempted. The subterfuges to perpetuate—one-Period need not be_ considered "as be applied by improving the enuipparty rule. The general attitude of rent of the soldier, and decreasing complaisance towards the Govern-the munter of men in each division, ment's political opponents will not which will make Tt possible to. give be extended to the bandits. "On the Fegular pay and. so more than com: whole the policy will be to eliminate atate Yor the Joe of map.
Danditry by social measures of re~ is is expected eventually to. pul form such as have been indi the army an a truly national basis in' Provinces, like Hupeh, and, in due course; pave the way which is now bandit. ike Hapa
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.