The page of foreign news is what chiefly concerns us. It is entirely pro-Axis, derived from messages from some kind of Transocean-cum-Domei and Stefani-cum-Domei services, lately, an occasional Haves-Vichy message; scarcely ever Reuter, and no American agencies. The tale of German and Italian successes is, therefore, unending and marvellous. A' first sight, this intensive pro-Axis and anti-British propaganda migh' seem a serious matter. But, on reflection, it will be found that it can do us comparatively little harm There are two sides to the question. In the first place it is a question, how much the ordinary Pekingese understands of the conflict in Europe with all its dificult and, to him, unpronounceable names. The other day the newspapers announced with banner headlines the capture of Ssu Ma Li Lan by the Italians; yet one would have been but few dollars out of pocket, if one had offered a dollar to every man in the street who had ever heard of Somaliland before. Then, again, the people and authorities of North China have long ago ceased to be free agents, so that even admitting that this propaganda does influence them, it does not matter a row of pins.
In any case, it seems extremely doubtful, whether the pro-Axis presentation of the war news really does make any impression on the Chinese. For two years or more, these same papers have Been regaling their readers day after day with. detailed accounts - oft- never-ending "Japanese victories, of the death or desertiorNof this and that Chinese leader, of the complete annihilation of the remaining Chinese armies, of the definite destruction of Chungking, and, above all, of the certain collapse on the following day of Chiang Kai-shek and his government. When, therefore, they open their daily paper the next morning and find it assuring them for the thousand and first time that Chiang Kai-shek is about to collapse, it is scarcely to be wondered at, if even the most credulous Chinese becomes a little sceptical, as time goes on. For these reasons the pro-Axis and anti-British propaganda in the Chinese Press in North China these days would not appear to be of any great importance: The reaction on the minds of the readers that may be expected to set in, when, before long, the true position of affairs can no longer be entirely concealed, can only work out to our advantage. In view of conditions reigning in this part of the world at the present time, that is probably the most satisfactory way that it could be brought about.
Attacks on Britain' and U.S, The only articles in the vernacular Press worth studying for the foreigner are the leaders with their continual attacks on Great Brit recent days, however, the U.S.A. has also come in for some severe slaps. Here are excerpts from two recent articles in the Peking Hsin Min Pai On the 22nd, discussing the Ameri can-Canadian "Joint Defence Committee," it so Now that Britain is on the eve of collapse, America not only is doing nothing to assist Britain, but has even declared that she will adhere to the Monroe Doctrine. Despite all British propaganda that she is fighting in the front line for the defence of America against Germany, America has neither declared war on Germany nor increased her aid to Britain.
Although both countries have the same policy of exploiting the rest of the world economically, each of them is thinking only of its own immediate interests and profits. America afraid that Britain might come out victorious from the war and be the only Great Power in Europe, in which case there will be no profit for America.... Fearing that Britain alone cannot withstand the Germen onslaught, the British government has offered to hand over to America air bases in her colonies in the Western hemisphere, in return for American aid. But this small offer cannot tempt America into entering the war, because her true desire is to take complete possession of those same colonies.
Even should America join in the European conflict immediately, she will not win the war, because the American army is weak and the quality of her soldiers poor. They know more about comfort than about fighting and are, moreover, not brave enough to die. Among all the armies in the world the American army has the largest number of men who do not dare to die. With such an army, how can the United States hope to win in the present war, which frightens even gods and devils. Then, too, the American people has always hated war, so that it is more than likely that before she really gets into the war, she will be faced with internal trouble. If America enters the war, she will merely be digging ther own grave. As to the talk of America hampering Japan's policy in East Asia, that is a pure joke.... Should America with her usual hypocrisy attempt to interfere with the reconstruction' of East Asia, we peoples of East Asia, will fight her with all our resources, and to the last man. It will be very unfortunate for her, should she lightheartedly venture to embark on a trial of strength with us. After all, what have we to fear from her?"
"What rubbish!" the reader may be Yes, perhaps: but interesting rubbish, that contains age, as we should so Mr. Hu Shih Not
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.