CHINA TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1937, Page 14

CHINA TO-DAY.

CHANGES WITNESSED.

EXPERIENCE OF MISSIONARY.

ATTITUDE TO JAPAN.

Great changes in China have been seen by the Rev. George W. Gibb, M.A. (Aberdeen), Director-General of the China Inland Mission, who is now in Wellington. He has lived 42 years there, and has travelled over practically the whole of that great country. Though it is so long ago since he first went to China, he. found the mission firmly established then. It was started by Dr. Hudson Taylor 70 years ago to carry the Gospel into inland China. Though the China Inland Mission makes no application for fuiids and does no propaganda work, during those 70 years it has received into its exchequer £7,000,000 entirely without solicitation, and it is without a penny of debt. Its income to-day is £500 a day. A small proportion of this money came from Chinese people,, most of whom have little of this world's goods, but they are contributing towards making the Church self-supporting, which is the aim of the mission, and are indeed at present contributing 75 per cent of the expenses entailed in this direction.

During the past 10 years, said Mr. Gibb to a "Post" reporter, the mission had met with outstanding difficulties caused by the political position, but it had succeeded im adding 55,000 converts to the Church, which is established throughout the whole of China. It is inter-denominational and international, including a dozen denominations and more than a dozen countries of origin. Work is being carried on at present in 15 provinces, and the number of its missionaries is 1400, assisted by some 3000 Chinese colleagues. It has over 300 schools and 325 Bible schools and schools connected with its work.

"The situation in China during the last 10 years has been extremely difficult," said Mr. Gibb, "due to the constant uprisings in almost every province. During that period we have lost 10 missionaries by martyrdom, and quite a large number of our missionaries, including Mr. Havman from Auckland, have been held for ransom in the hands of Communists for longer or shorter periods. The conflicting policies of all governing units and the resultant unrest have restricted our efforts to a certain extent, but notwithstanding that, opportunities are being given for the preaching of the Gospel amongst all classes alike, rich and poor, throughout the land. The generalissimo we have. Chiang Kai-shek, is a professed Christian. In our mission we have from 30 to 40 missionaries from New Zealand, and some 70 from Australia. Communist Activities. "So long as the Canton Government and the Central Government exist it will be difficult to unify China, but Chiang Kai-shek has made good progress in Szechuan, formerly under five' bands, but now brought practically under his own command, and being brought to the allegiance of the Central "Government. In many cases the generalissimo is bringing about a more helpful and more harmonious condition of affairs. Of course, he has to deal with the large bodies of Communists who are i mining all over the land. How the Chinese look at Communists is brought about by the way in which thev treat the natives of the country. *If the people are treated kindly,* the Communists make some headwav, but if they are cruel and kill off hundreds of Chinese, as they frequently do, then they are looked on with bitter hatred. When any rumour of the coming of Communists is circulated, the xhole population seeks places of safety. Toll is demanded, and if the people' do not pay, then there is sometimes wholesale killing until payment is made."

Ihe interests of Chinese and white residents alike, said Mr. Oibb, was roused by the convergence of Japanese aggression from the north-east, and Russian penetration from the north-west. Russia was moving more quietlv. and not so much was heard abroad of her efforts, but she was equally concerned with Japan in securing a 'foothold in China. Russia was undoubtedly making definite headway, especially in Chinese Turkestan, which was almost Sovietised. It is an opinion held by many people in China that it will not be long before the live north-eastern provinces of Suiyuan, Chahar, Shansi, Hopei and Shantung will be Japanese," said Mr. i • "These two factors introduce greater difficulties into the mission's work.' Fear of Japan. Mr. Gibb said he had heard the opinion expressed more than once that the Japaanese action in Manchukuo had caused euch a fear, and even hatred of Japanese in China, that there mi«ht be a danger of the Chinese turnin- to the Soviet as allies. China, though the position was improving in this respect, had a rather inchoate national outlook, and it was thought that if anv con siderable portion of the Chinese'nation was known to favour Russia, it would be inclined to influence the rest, though there were, of course, differences of language and customs between north and south China so marked that concerted action was hard to achieve.

Much slower in adopting mechanised methods than the Japanese, the Chinese ®till ent along in the back country much as they had always done, but there was no doubt that the country was awaking. It was strange to hear goods asked for by tlieir advertised labels, such as cigarettes or some brand of fuel oil. All rivermen now smoked cigarettes where they had previously smoked pipes. The original Chinese pipe was a waterpipe. He had seen a certain brand of cigarette advertised on the very borders of Tibet. The reason why Chinese did not eat much meat was that they could not afford it. The richer Chinese ate a good deal t>f meat, chiefly pork. Rice was still the staple food in the central provinces of the country. In the north its place wa6 taken by millet. So used did rice eaters get to one diet that when, as porters or otherwise, they crossed into millet country, they became Dractically unfit to work.