BRITAIN AND CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 8

BRITAIN AND CHINA.

Perhaps Britain does not desire war with China, and perhaps Germany did not want war with Belgium when she invaded her territory. Wben Germany invaded Belgium, and when Britain invaded China and shelled her ritie.s, they may have desired to obtain the proverbial "walk-over,*' but plain-thinking men can only suppose that the risk and even certainty of war was realised and accepted. If a bully "thrashes a small boy, we do not praise the former for not wishing the victim to retaliate. With regard to the "liberal proposals"' mentioned by "Patriot."' I can only quote the famous reply of the Venetian lawyer-patriot. Manin. to ths Austrian Ambassador, who promised hire better government in the future. He said, "We do not ask you to govern better. W e only ask you to go." And the Chinese add. "Go quickly.** As for awaitiu? the "establishment of an authority with which it may negotiate with some show of success," I would like to point out that the Cantonese Government is the only ono which is democratically elected, and it representative of the aims and ideals of modern China, Furthermore, I would point out that China would long ago have been unite! had Britain and Japan (to name the worst offenders) not materially backed with money and guns the forces of" reaction. It was the British loan to Yuan Shi Kai in 1913 that mad* possible the smashing of the first united republic, lam not without sympathy for "Patriot* in his attempt to defend" Britain's but I would again suggest his criticism should b« directed against those politicians wbo besmirched that record rather than against thos» who object to such besmirching. On behalf of the Hands-Off China Anti-War Organisation, s. W. SCOTT.