Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1948. NO STRINGS WANTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 136, 20 March 1948, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1948. NO STRINGS WANTED

According to a recent cable message from Nanking, the Chinese Government, while it hopes to receive aid from the United States, does not desire to accept such assistance if it is conditional on any special provisions. In other words, any aid which might be given China by America or any other nation will not be accepted if there are any strings attached to it. China is at the receiving end, and is badly in need of aid, and a great deal of it. In these circumstances she can hardly expect to receive any considerable volume of aid unless some sort of conditions are attached. It may be that she expects America to seek some terms in regard to the provision of naval bases, airfields or make some request of a military nature in view of the .withdrawal of American forces from China. Even if aid, when it does come, should be to some extent along these lines, the Chinese, in their present situation can hardly refuse. At the moment she has probably one of the largest armies in the field, but it is fighting a losing battle against the Communists. If she is eventually to succeed, then American help in an executive and not advisory capacity, must be forthcoming. In a recent magazine article Mr William C. Bullitt, former United States Ambassador urged that Americans should undertake the training of 10 new divisions, and that another 20 divisions for, say, 300,000 men in all) should be equipped to act as mobile units against the Communists in Noith China. Mr Bullitt was optimistic enough to think that the new divisions could be trained within six 'months or a year. But even he realised that radical military reforms would be necessary to give the Chinese Army any combatant value. If action was taken along these lines, China would have to foot the bill, and she could not quibble about any strings which .might be attached. Conditions m China are without doubt very low, but they will not be improved by the mere pouring in of money. The whole economic system must be revised and remodelled, and the army must be reorganise!. If America provides the wherewithal to do this, she will certainly attach strings, and China will have no option but to accept oi go under.