The Chinese Art Exhibition, which was opened to-day in aid of the Chinese medical relief funds, brings back all the joys of the Burlington House Exhibition of two years ago. In one respect it is even better, in that it is smaller and one is the less in danger of being distracted by something else before one has examined one thing properly. Also several of the cases of porcelain are set out in the room so that the pieces can be seen from all sides. One recognized some old favourites from Burlington House, particularly a figurine of a buffalo of the Tang dynasty, which I always badly wanted. But for the most part the exhibition is quite new, and in every piece, froma Shang dynasty bronze to a piece of Chien hung famille rose as perfect as it can be.
The greatest attraction is Mrs. Lonides's rolling horse of the Ming dynasty, a small white porcelain horse with grayish mane, rolling on his back, so life-like that one really expected him to get up. It is curious that in ancient days horses, real horses, seem to have been very generally used in China, and very favourite subjects of artists; whereas now we only get the Mongolian pony (except of course imported horses).
Another fine figure is a dark green jade lion, from the old Summer Palace, and another is a delightful porcelain elephant, the artist having improved on Nature by colouring him a pinkish mauve.
There are not many pictures, but they are well chosen, including a lovely restful study of lotuses, and a wonderous old man, white-bearded, in a red gown and a fine fur hat with big ear flaps standing straight out. It is one of those portraits which if you stand before it quietly will tell you endless stories. or the latter might offer unexpectedly reasonable terms "but the danger of a Japanese triumph has to be faced. Recalling the terrible records obtained by the League of Nations on the trade in drugs pushed by Japanese agents in North China, Mr. Barrett says:
Japanese conquest would mean a worse thing than military domination, cultural slavery and the end of the hopes engendered by the success of the National Government in reco sity of the task of China. She mz K she conquers China, China will inevitab.y fall into degradation.
Is Japan to be trusted with the overlordship of China? Could she maintain her rule, and at the same time allow that great people to take the place in the world which they have the character and the ability to take, after a period of reform and reconstruction, such as Nanking had already inaugurated? Will China be left to the mercy of Japanese militarism and commercialism? Militarism by its nature kills for patriotic reasons, and with proper professional pride, Chinese rebels would have to killed. Commercialism! We in England have emerged out of the era of Satanic mills, and we have curbed primitive les. Can the same be the havoc of the drink trade among said of Japan? Her own factories are no Utopia, What will those manned by Chinese cooles be like?
To resist Japan "in the full flight of victory" in North China where we have no bases would be impossible.
But to prevent Japan moving south either against Canton, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, or against Hainan is perfectly feasible The only: indispensable condition is that Hongkong should be adequately fortified. It is through Hongkong, with which is bound up the fate of all South China, Mr. Barrett insists, that China may ultimately be saved If South China is saved the whole of China will eventually save her-Sel. With Brita secure at Hongkong the normal process of reconstruction in South China and Sze-Chuen can continue without Japanese interference. Chinese nationalism and will to reconstruction, being concentrated in that area, will present a more wieldy administrative task than when the whole Repubic was governed from Nanking. The Chinese will be imbued with a new spirit of unity and with a desire to purge the country of its ills and renew its great-hess. But without a British Hongkong, China is cut off from Europe, and the spirit of patriotism and progress will inevitably be quenched, and the whole land must, in the course of time, fall under 'Japanese domination. It' is not any that European goods and traders go upcountry from Hongkong, but the Chi-hose come there and see for themselves what Europe is doing and what she is prepared to offer them. They ko back to heir waled towns and muddy villages intent upon change.
As Mr. Barrett says "political fires arise in the East and often, as jungle fires, disaster seems imminent" but in the end only dry grass is consumed.
"Whatever happens Britain should maintain her place in the Far East. The country that awakened the Far One final reference to Far Eastern politics. For those who do not read "The Times" regularly, tie following paragraph from its Berlin correspond-jen tis survey of German feeling and conditions at the beginning of the New Year will be of interest:
To prudent minds the anti-Comintern Pact has had few attractions from. the beginning, and distaste turned to dismay when Japan—having.. as were, made sure of Germany's a! titude—embarked on a war of aggre: sion against a country which nat Tong been a market for German trade and enterprise of various kinds, a country in which German prestige As they see it, every step that Japan makes southwards "must involve her in new difficulties and in-Enilably" weaken both er communi: Cations with home and her grip on Manchoukuo and North China. Further, they diter from the general belief here in Soviet Russia's raw. cide." "The Far Eastern Army they believe io be particularly strong; and Japan, they fear, ly weakening herself in the event of a flank attack from Siberia should Russia be tempted ever io move. Worst of al, they dislike the increasing tone of heartiness phrases "such as "our "German friends" which come from the Tokyo Press as Japan pushes southward ito arca occupied by Western interests.
I have lately had occasion to look up some Customs figures and they tell an amazing tale of the growth of German trade with China. Already in 1936 so close to Japan's as makes little difference, it must have exceeded it in 1987, of which, however, we
tail.
not yet had the returns in de-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.