LABOUR DELEGATES’ VISIT TO CHINA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 9

LABOUR DELEGATES’ VISIT TO CHINA

Sir, —China’s unofficial ambassador, “P.J.A.,” says in his last letter that Formosa is occupied by the .'mericans and the occupation is an act of aggression against China. Neither is true. As for aggressiveness, no people as a whole is aggressive until it is conscripted by the ruling clique. The Japanese people or the Americans are no less peaceful than the Chinese, but conscription turns normally inoffensive people into aggressors, a process that cost New Zealand in the last year £30.000,000. and the Soviet Union £10.000,000.000. The Soviet countries having conscription, ordinary unsophisticated people in the West see in them potential aggressors; and this accounts for the fact that a permanent state of fear can be maintained in their minds. Only an unarmed people can inspire confidence in its peaceful intentions, not exercises “Mailed Fist” or “Stalin.”—Yours, etc., NO MORE CONSCRIPTION. June 3, 1954.

Sir, —May I support “P.J.A.” in his approval of the visit of Labour delegates to China to investigate what the Chinese people are doing. I notice that this week the British Youth Festival Committee is also sending a delegation of 16 representative young persons to China, including two Quakers. The knowledge that will thus come will dispel fear. Through fear, persons easily lose a sense of proportion and get irrational ideas. Speaking of the American people, someone recently said: “If we take a dozen men.. 11 of them Christians and one of them a Communist, lock them in a room* and leave them for three hours, we are almost certain that 12 Communists will emerge!” That is how fear works. Noone would be so certain, if he really knew Communists (and Christianity). Knowledge gained from visiting China would be a great corrective^ etc - J.J.-' June 3, 1954.