Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1946. POSITION IN CHINA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 303, 4 October 1946, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1946. POSITION IN CHINA

It would seem from statements made by reliable and responsible writers that much is happening' in China concerning which the people of this country know nothing. For the most part the cable hews deals only with clashes between Government and Communist forces, and the impression is left that apart from this fighting everything in China is going well; that after many years of strife the people are once again free and that the country is rapidly returning to normal. James Bertram paints an entirely different picture when he says: “Early this year I had the opportunity of seeing something at first hand of both Japan and China in the postsurrender set-up. I came back with two very clear impressions. First, that the official American picture of progress under the occupation in Japan (as summarised in General MacArthur’s firstyear report) is misleading and highly dangerous. Second, that China’s needs to-day are so great and so urgent that they deserve a lop priority, at least on this side of the world.” That the position • should be as stated is almost alarming. The Chinese, considering their limited resources, played a wonderful part in achieving victory; and it is hardly to the credit of the Allied nations that Japan, for instance,'should be assisted to the extent that she is being assisted and very little is being done to help rehabilitate the Chinese. Admittedly the Japanese are under control and for the most part are obliged to do as they are told, but can China, by her own efforts alone, rise above the poverty and misery which undoubtedly exist? The people of this country have been appealed to to assist Unrra and Corso, but it would seem that the much-needed supplies are not reaching the people who need them so urgently. Two months ago Mr F. 11. La Guardia, Director-General of Unrra, suspended shipment of relief supplies to China. And last month General MacArthur from Tokio announced that the Japanese would be given permission and facilities to send a whaling expedition to the Antarctic. These two facts are in such contrast that there seems need , for some elucidation of the position as it exists at tne moment. It may be suggested that Unrra supplies w r ere stopped in order to prevent them falling into the hands of the wrong people, and yet these same supplies are most urgently needed in areas where the fighting is taking place. As Bertram says : “It is a depressing thought that the rapacity of a few grafters and political considerations should block the movement oj sorely-needed supplies and equipment into the Chinese interior. But whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter, Unrra, in China has definitely ‘bogged down’; and intends to withdraw by March, 1947.” The only conclusion to be drawn from the facts is that China’s needs today are greater than ever, and there is r an urgent call to the Allied Nations to help. Corso will make 1 further appeals to the people of the Dominion, and it is to be hoped that something will be done to prove conclusively that an effort is being made to lectify the present situation in this Allied country.