"MORE HOPEFUL"

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 8

"MORE HOPEFUL"

OUTLOOK IN CHINA. GOVERNMENT'S PROSPECTS. SUPPRESSION OF BANDITRY. "China is going through a most interesting period at the present time," said Dr. T. Z. Koo, a distinguished Chinese, on■ hie arrival by the Niagara this morning. "There" is a keen struggle taking place inside the Nationalist party itself. It is a strife between the civil and. military groups, but-1 think that the present National Government will become permanent. It is still a rcvolutionary Government, and there is no franchise the same as' in your country. The present Government was established in 1928, and it is gradually extending its influence throughput China, but, of course, it is opposed in some quarters and its authority is challenged by local governments. "You ask me whether China will ever revert to a monarchy. I do not thiiik there is even the slightest possibility of this. It was abolished iii 1911, and even, the most conservative opinion in China would not predict another monarchy."

Dr. Koo stated that the lawlessness and disorder which had been so prevalent up to October last, when hostilities ceased, was being severely dealt with on all hands by the Central- Gov.ernment.. A number of pacification commissioners had been appointed, and their task was to deal, directly with bandits arid robbers. "The position to-dav is much more hopeful," he said. "The last powerful group in oppoeition to the Government lias been defeated and there is no similar . body of opponents left. We had, a great deal of trouble with Bolshevik Russians, but since the expulsion order in 1926" the position has not been so difficult. We are, however, confronted with a Chinese Communist party, which works in alliance with the Russian group. They were powerful in 1926 and 1927 but they have now been driven underground. The Government has also had to deal with their literarv activities and use suppression in that quarter." . '