China

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28748, 20 November 1958, Page 3

China

Sir.—For ringside spectators neither Mr P. J. Alley nor Mr J. F. Dulles has put up a very convincing display of doctrinaire fisticuffs. Both represent extreme and convinced opinions, and neither does his case much good by overstating it. Anyone really interested in developments in China might do worse than read Dennis Bloodworth’s recent articles in the “Observer.” Like other unbiased critics Bloodworth states frankly that the material plight of the Chinese peasant is probably no worse now than it was under a succession of despotic rulers, but he sees in the increasing collectivisation of land schemes a deprivation of his pitifully few human rights which is likely to hit the Chinese coolie where it hurts him most. The new celestial era of brotherly love so enthusiastically applauded by Mr Alley is not likely to rule out a peasant’s passion for his own land, or survive a system of segregation which separates families permanently and conclusively. There really is no answer to that one.—Yours, etc., I.S.T. November 19, 1958.