bandit suppression Jand national reconstruction having been ooided upon, the foreign policy of the Government has also been" settled. It is alleged in jeertain quarters that the Govern ment's foreign policy is somewhat tweak-kneed apd affords therefore a pretext for Opposition, I am of opinion however that
take into account our own strength upon a foreign policy, we mu fas well as the circumstances which we are placed. Once we thave decided upon a definite policy,
jeriticisms or opposition' there may:
(oust stick tai, whatever be. We must' under no eircumstances deviate from our settled hey: for if we do we shall only jead the country to extinction.
'After the outbreak of the Shen-ang (Mukden) Incident on Septem-18, 1931, 1 attacked the then Northern authorities for their policy of non-resistance. For this, T have in turn been criticised for' iboing: too strong in my stand. In} May of the current year, 1 took upon myself the responsibility of concluding the Tangku armistice agreement; advocating the for [cessation of hostilities, I was critic for being too' weak. Both jaf these criticisms, however, are 1 had at first opposed the North-[China authorities because they had persisted in a policy.of non-res ance. Later, I. took upon if {the respon ity of bringing about the armistice because after three months of severe fighting along the (Great. Wall, our. forces were forced [back and Tientsin and Peking were in imminent danger; just as in Japanese invasion of Shanghai fandWoosung area on January 28, 3082, up to. February 20, I gave my." whole-hearted. support for resistance but on March 1, when four front Hines had collapsed and einforeements -were, for serious reasons, not available, I took upon myself the responsibility of bringing, about the cessation of hostilities. The very persons who were relieved by the cessation of hostilities dur. ting. the Japanese invasion of Shanghai, however, have now come four in opposition to the cessation of hostilities in North China. This fyould be tantamount to saying that the Government should bring about {the Scexsation of hostilities when they themeclves were suffering reverses but that it should force Jothers to What is certain death fellen others are. suffering the reverses. This sort of argument jean never stand.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.