The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1926. THE ANTI-BRITISH CHINESE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 79, 28 December 1926, Page 8

The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1926. THE ANTI-BRITISH CHINESE

It has often been asserted by the more ardent Chinese nationalists that the policy pursued by the European Powers, more particularly Great Britain, has been in the past too largely permeated and dictated by a selfish commercialism than by consideration for the political advancement and welfare of the Chinese themselves. The taunt is possessed no doubt of some slight modicum of truth, but whatever may have been the mistakes of British policy in the Far East up to and ever since the notorious anti-foreign outbreak of the Boxers? no such reproach or accusation could fairly be made during the past decade. On the contrary, the Chinese Government or Governments have had a much more direct say in the foreign administration at the treaty ports, and even where British capital has been devoted to the exploitation of Chinese industries and undertakings generally, there has been an ever-increasing tendency to recognise very fully the advantages, both to China herself and the foreign companies, of a joint European and native control in which properly qualified Chinese have a substantial share. Why, then, is there to-day such an intense, almost ferocious, anti-foreign feeling as that to the existence of which the everobservant Professor Macmillan Brown has recently _ testified ? The answer is probably to be found in a widespread belief in China that the many opposing factions have all had European, in particular British, assistance with money and munitions. With, regard to the former element in the continuance of the destructive internecine warfare with which the great Eastern State has too Jong been afflicted, the belief is probably without much foundation. But when munitions have been sold, British traders have most likely troubled but little as to the rights and wrongs of the conflicting interests. It is now highly satisfactory that on this particular point the British Government should have spoken to China in no uncertain terms. Whatever complaint the Chinese may have had in the past on the score of foreign aiding and abetting of this, that, or the other political party British hands from now onward are to. be kept clean of any interference, in whosever interest. Great Britain now lays down a clear and definite policy of non-interference with China’s domestic affairs. But she cannot, and, so we are pleased to observe, decidedly will not stand aside and see British subjects in China wantonly molested nor legitimate financial and commercial interests suffer indefinitely and without redress. Accompanying a thoroughly friendly, though righteously firm, declaration as to the British position and Britain’s intention to have it respected, comes the news of a strong flotilla of British destroyers being sent to Far Eastern waters. This is as it should be.

The most alarming item in recent news from the Far East is of the growing penetration—by no means to be considered a peaceful penetration—by the mischief-planning Russian Soviet and its emissaries. How far this may complicate and further endanger British and Chinese relations it, is impossible to say. In the immediate present the assistance of any one of the. contending Chinese parties by the Bolshevists cannot fail to embitter the conflicting elements, and it is almost needless to say that in any and all such Russian meddling a special feature will be attempts to further embitter Chinese feeling against us. The distinct definition of Britain’s attitude towards China is a little belated, but at last it is there, and it is sincerely to be hoped that with the new year may come that revision of the treaties which the British Foreign Office has frankly admitted as necessary; that the new year may witness the advent of the long-desired pacification of China and the establishment of some fairly stable form of central government.