NATIONALISTS IN CHINA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19062, 26 July 1927, Page 9

NATIONALISTS IN CHINA.

A PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE ?

"Nothing can stem the new Nationalist movement in China," said Mrs H. Anderson, when speaking upon that subject at Canterbury College last night. Mrs Anderson has recently returned tp New Zealand after ten years' residence in China as student secretary of the Y.W.C.A.

It was the coming into power of a party of men of all ranks and of all provinces, sweeping away the old conservatism, that had kept China static for centuries, she continued. It was the only hopeful thing, a British consul had told her, that had appeared in China for years past. Young China was giving it allegiance with fervour and it had principles to which a man could be proud to adhere. In Japan, modern Western innovations came from the upper classes, but in China the movement, which was about 35 years old, came from the people. Sun Yat Sen had worked up the people's revolution in Canton, until his death in 1924, to enable them to choose their own Government. No assistance could be obtained from America or England, so Eussia was applied to as a last resort. The shooting incidents in the concessions in lirao really Bet the revolution in motion. Since the war, the Chinese attitude towards the West had changed, but the treaties had not changed correspondingly. The lowness of the customs had caused a tremendous outburst of indignation, and the attitude of the English Press in China, a consul had told her, was the greatest handicap to 'peaceful relations. The horror in Shanghai when those boys were shot down unarmed by foreigners was tremendous. The sentiment spread throughout the country, and the Nationalists set things going. It was soon realised that there was something wrong with China's relations with other countries, and a Nationalist Government was set up at Hankow. The attitude of the British Government was magnificent. When a Government tolerated insult and loss of life, realising that there was a movement afoot for the improvement of a country, it was a step forward in history. It was believed by Christian and non-Christian alike that this movement was all for the good of the people. The Chinese had an extraordinary capacity for getting back to peaceful conditions, and if our Government could establish a friendly relationship and be as China's guest, then trade would revive. England had a reputation for honesty in China, and her whole attitude would lead to such trade as had never been known before. ■ The missionaries would also go back as guests. They hoped to be there again in a year, and so soon as they were allowed, they, would go. The speaker, who was introduced by Miss A. Burns, secretary of the New Zealand Students' Movement, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by the many present.