WAR IN CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1938, Page 21

WAR IN CHINA.

CHIANG SUMS UP. I AN UNALTERABLE RESOLVE. STAND TO THE DEATH. authoritative interT, ith . General Chiang Kai-shek Generalissimo of the Chines-e forces is the first to be obtained bv a foreign correspondent, an.l was given exclusively to Mr. John Cinnther by the generalissimo. The Chinese general sets forth very clearly his unalterable (Incision to fight the Japanese invaders to the bitter end. and outlines the policy of the united C»iina, of which as is known, he has now become the virtual dictator. ■ i

(By JOHN GUNTHER.)

HANKOW, April 17. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek clarified to-day the phenomenon that has puzzled and impressed the world—the* extraordinary spectacle of a united China fighting the Japanese to a standstill for nine months in a war the Japanese thought would be a three weeks' walkover. In a candid, comprehensive interview with me, the generalissimo, who talks for publication only very rarely, gave reasons for the spectacular Chinese resistance, indicated that the myth of Japanese "invincibility" had been successfully challenged, and pledged that he would continue to fight till the last Japanese soldier left Chinese soil. He explained his relations with the Communists, pointed out how Japan is trying to mask her conquest by tha creation of puppet States, and said that hostilities have unified China as China has never been unified before. We crossed the smooth, wide, yellow Yangtse, opaque but shiny, the colour of pale liquid mud, in the early afternoon. The Generalissimo, the strongest man China has known for generations, mres not at Hankow, but across the riv»r m Wuchang, capital of the Hupeh Prov' Ha nkow, known as the Chicago of China, is the agglutination of three cities at a point where the railways to Pei ping and Canton cut the Yangtse. Here, 300 miles behind the front, ° the Generalissimo has his headquarters. We seemed a long way from the war, but only Jast week we watched Japanese bombers noisily attack the local railway station. Signs of war were not pressingly conspicuous, but we saw makeshift bomb shelters on the main streets and occasional groups of smartly miformed soldiers. Named TsaL" To-day was an excellent time for the Generaussimoto talk, first because of the continued stiff: Chinese resistance - in battles south, of Shantung this week secondly, because Chiang has just bean named 'Tsung Teai," Supreme Leader of the Kuomintang, China's only political party. This waa a title similar to that used by Sun Yat Sen, the father of the Chinese Republic, and never before conferred on anyone else. The symbolic significance of the assumption of the title by Chiang is considerable. It formalises the unity of party and State under the leadership of one man and confirms Chiang in a position like'that of .Hitler in Germany and Stalin in Russia, undisputed head of a totalitarian State. ■But Chiang is holding this position only as a wartime measure. He China to revert to democracy aa soon vf .^e_denera^9simfls' , and their entourage liVe. V a pmC-i; walled villa surrounded by a jagged rock' garden-. The Generalissimo and his wife looked extremely fit. Fit. is a banal word to use, but it exactly expresses their appearance, good health, poise and 1 their mood of quiet self-possession. Almost all those visitors who have known Chiang in the past, and who have seen him again recently, agree that his spirits and health have never been better. I had prepared a list of. questions as comprehensive and pungent as I dared make them, which had been translated into Chinese and submitted to ' the Generalissimo. Heroic and Stubborn Resistance. Madame Chiang, very chic and even better looking than in her pictures, had tea served to me, my wife, W. H. Donald, the Generalissimo's indispensable Australian adviser, and Hollingtott K. Tong, head of the Board of Information, who incidentally is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. The Generalissimo, who had been busy downstairs, arrived presently, smiling cheerfully and wearing a light khaki uniform with three stars on his collar. Madame Chiang talked about relief and reconstruction work. Then the Generalissimo handed across the table his written answers to my questions. What is the present military and political situation? Are you confident? "In the nine months that have elapsed since Japan began her ruthless invasion of China, she has learned that our people are not composed of weaklings as she imagined them to be. She has been taught that they will fight as heroically and stubbornly for their inalienable rights as any other people. The morale of our people has not been demoralised by Japan's unspeakable barbarism, like burning, slaying and looting. They have come closer in understanding and unity to face the national peril. They will sacrifice everything to save their country. I am more confident than ever that we shall achieve a final victory. Our people have the will and courage, even if they lack the equality of armament our spirit makes up all defictencies. We are capable of undergoing any hardships to achieve victory." "Is there any possible bjjsis for peace at the present moment?" "A possible basis for peace cannot exist either at present or in the future while the sovereign rights of our country are being violated. There can be 110 prospect for' peace until Japan really awakens to her folly. We shall continue to fight for our territorial and administrative integrity until justice is vindicated i'-nd Japan has forsaken her policy of aggression." I Failure of International Justice. "To what do you attribute the superior quality of Chinese resistance now as coniparud with 1931 and 1932?" "China did not resist Japan in 1931 because we believed in the sanctity and inviolability of international treaties. * We placed reliance on the League of Nations. The League failed us and the world failed us. We were victimised by our faith in international justice. Japan was encouraged by its collapse. So boldly Japan embarked on a campaign to conquer China in 1937. When the" Japanese created the incident at Lukuuochiao last July, we knew what fate was in store for us if we did not resist. We were compelled to take up arms in self-defence. TVe ha\e suffered in the past-nine months as- no other great mass of people has ever suffered. That suffering has burned into our hearts an unflinchablo resolution to save oiu country or die." ~. - . "What, in your opinion, are the results

Firstly, the struggle has unified the nation. It has galvanised, the people J* a patriotic singleness of purpose, it has developed a national spirit of selfsacrifice hitherto unknown, it has supplanted individualism by nationalism, it ias proved that national salvation must ti anscend factional interests, it has spurred widespread activity in the development of economic resources, it lias shown that the spirit to resist is of even greater importance than superior equipment. Above all, the struggle has shown that Japan is far from invincible." Every Inch of Chinese Soil. "Would you be willing to say that you will light until the last Japanese soldier leaves Chinese territory, viz., 18 provinces? Do you think you can ever regain the five northern provinces?" The generalissimo preferred to lump these questions into a single answer: "I confirm what I said when this invasion I began. We will fight until every JapanI ese soldier is off our soil. And that includes the entire territory of China. We are certain to recover it in time." "Is there any permanent or eventual solution to the Japanese problem; viz., is there any way of making the Japan;se satisfied without the conquest of Chinese territory?" "We are not concerned with making Japan satisfied while her troops are on Dur territory. We are concerned with convincing her that she can resume triendly relations with us, dictated by international practice based on mutual respect, equality and decency. All the jconor-ic co-operation and commerce that Japan desires can he secured on that basis. But that is not what Japan wants. She wants economic domination with a monopoly of economic exploitation. Japan says she has no territorial iesigns. What she has in mind is to secure immediate control and ultimate subjugation through the creation of puppet regimes. The world has seen md is seeing what underlies this new type of conquest." "What is your programme to maintain the morale of civilian China?" "Intensive official efforts have been under way ever since the beginning of hostilities to teach the people what invasion means and must be- done to save the land of their ancestors. The educated young and educationalists are travelling far and wide teaching cooperative effort to support the Government and fighting forces. The response fcias been extraordinary. For instance, on certain highways of great national importance construction work is being done by hundreds of thousands of people who not only get no pay but also find their own food. They work with an enthusiasm never before seen in China. This spirit is everywhere, and the morale of the people is remarkable even among those millions who have lost their all and who have seen their fellows blown to atoms or slain in cold blood. British and American Cantion. "It is often said that China is fighting now for Britain and the United States, since British and American trade and investment may suffer in the event of further Japanese penetration. Are the British and Americans helping you in any way morally, diplomatically or financially ? How, could British and Americans help?" "Since hostilities began we have reserved the sympathy Of various nations, and we are grateful to America and England for their share of sympathy and assistance. Our people, however, regret to observe that the caution now sxercised by the British and American Governments only tends to increase the mOnaee to the cause of jieace. "^VTiat ffam'Ariiefttaj Eng- r ," fend and -other" countries" is - that they would give material assistance to China and military supplies from Japan. Only by such measures can aggression be curbed and civilisation be tuaintained." r *i"What are your relations with the Btfi Route (Communist) Army? Have the Communists kept tlieir share of the United Front agreement T What do you think of General Chu Teh, the Communist leader, as a soldier?" "The Bth Rbute Army is one unit of the Chinese National forces and takes " orders from the same command as the other units. The Communists abandoned their old policies last year and now fight as an integral part of the National Army. They are fighting well in loyal observance 01 their undertakings. General Chu -Teh and others under him are as brave and capable as a,Dy able commanders in the Chinese Army." Strolled Along Unnoticed. The Generalissimo, taking an ink brush, signed the 'Chinese translation of the interview with a sweeping flourish. His autograph covers four and a half inches. He then turned to me and asked questions about the international situation, Madame Chiang interpreting. The Generalissimo talked briefly. Off record the range of the conversation included the reasons why Japan did not formally declare war; Philippine independence and the American Neutrality Act. At five he rose to go. The interview was over. Then an hour later —it's a strange world—we ran into him again in Hankow. He had just called on his brother-in-law, H. H. Kung, Finance Minister, and except for an inconspicuous bodyguard, was strolling alone down the main street. He wore a grey slouch hat with the party uniform and few passers-by noticed him as, like any commuter, he caught his boat. — (N.A.N.A.)