Even if the Japanese succeed in crushing Gen, Chiang Kai-shek and the Chungking Government, the problem of Communism will remain. recent days the Chinese Press. have Jucen giving much attention to certain rumours, to the effect that, owing to the collapse of France and the pre~ occupations of England—with the consequent closing of supply routes! from the southwest—Chungking is now, trying to fix up some kind of alliance with "Soviet Russia. These rumours} are cheerfully quoted as proof of the weakness of the Chungking Govern= ment and of its early collapse. Such conclusions may be correct or they may not be, but a development of this Kind would scarcely be helpful to Japanese plans, One of the main causes of the weakness of Chinese resistance has been the constant friction between the nioderate. Kuomintang and the Come munist elements. Were they now, ater all, to amalgamate—and ina Communist direction—it would mean.
chormous strengthening of the already widespread Communist in-nonce, and a corresponding prolongation of the never-ending conflict.
It is generally admitted that' the most efficient means. of" combating, 'Communism is to create a prosperous and contented population, thus cutting the ground from under' the feet of propaganda. It is, therefore, of the, tutinest importance the Chinese masses by providing them with an assured and reasonable stand. ard of living and to interfere in their lives as little as possible, Unfortunately, in north China today, economic conditions are all tending.
the opposite direction: a steady'
ise in the cost of living together with. an uncertain currency, the stoppage fof trade with foreign countries, and the ever-impending threat of famine. Unless. these urgent economic problems can be solved in a satisfactory iapner, the establishment of the "new order in east Asia" is likely remain as far-off as ever.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.