1t is true that there is a widespread belief that the Japanese, by their indiscriminate bombing of open towns and by their other barbarous acts committed in the course of their unjust as also by their harsh and arrogant treatment of the conquered populations, have stirred up such a feeling of hatred among the Chinese people, that they will never be able to develop or exploit their conquests. Although believers in humanity and justice will be anxious to accept this argument, a cold and impartial examination of facts does not seem to bear it out in its entirety. Having lived two and a half years in the occupied territory of north China and carefully watched developments there, I am unable to endorse the above view, at least not without very con siderable qualifications.
In the first place it has to be remembered that north China has suffered very much less from air-raids and hostilities generally, than other parts of China. More important still, the masses who in China are always living close to the borderline of starvation. have no time to spare in re-fretful or revengeful memories, and are forced to accept with thanks, whatever opportunities for earning their daily bread are offered them by their conquerors. It is true that this applies in a much less degree to the educated classes in north China, a large proportion of whom still steadily refuse to work together with the Japanese,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.