The report that the liaison conference between members of the Japanese Government and Imperial Headquarters, which was to have met to-day to consider a public statement clarifying Japan's attitude and policies towards China, will not be held this week has given rise to all manner of speculation. No reason has been given, but the most commonly accepted story is that Tokyo is awaiting further reports upon the attitude of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, indicating a belief that there may be some modification of the very firm stand he originally took towards the Japanese terms for cessation of hostilities. As was pointed out at the time, those terms amounted to a demand for unconditional surrender and it was not surprising that the Chinese leader should have rejected them.
Indeed, had he accepted, it would have been so complete a volte face, in circumstances which so many Chinese would contend made it unnecessary and improper, that it is doubtful whether the Generalissimo's authority would have remained intact thereafter. Notonlythat Japanese initial successes had been foreseen and the fact that they came up to expectation. in no way daunted the Chinese Government which had been preaching consistently the possibility of a long-drawn-out struggle as the only means of transforming original Japanese victory into the ardently wished-for defeat. Towards that end there has been a change in China's methods of warfare, and for the future relinquishment ofthe use of massed forces is contemplated and the adoption of guerilla tactics which are reported to have proved successful in north China. It has been amply proved that despite the desperate courage of the Chinese soldier, inadequate equipment makes him no real match for the highly organized and maintained Japanese forces in the mass, though the methods now contemplated may present the Japanese with a large number of elusive opponents difficult to get at or defeat.
There is every reason to believe that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek will be anxious to give the general adoption of the new method sufficient trial before making any change in the position he has already taken up. It seems generally accepted now that the Imperial Conference in Tokyo was not for the purpose of declaring war, but for the consideration of such other steps short of it might be considered appropriate. If the speculations of the Japanese press as to what has been decided are correct, and represent all that has been done, it must be confessed that the parturition, of the mountain has resulted in the production of a remarkably small rodent. The recognition of the autonomous government in Peiping is a foregone conclusion: it would be amazing if Japan showed any reluctance to recognize an organization of its own creation, no matter how imperfect it may: be or how radical a departure it is from original plans. The withdrawal of Mr. S. Kawagoe, Japanese Ambassador to China, is also regarded as a possibility" but even that should prove no serious blow to China. The continuance of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.