CANTON AND THE SOVIET

Evening Star, Issue 19519, 29 March 1927, Page 3

CANTON AND THE SOVIET

HOW AFFECTION BEGAN When Canton needed a friend the only one who proved willing was Soviet Russia; but that is no reason why, "c aro told, lor tarring the Cantonese or Lvuommtang bovennnent with the brusii ot bolshevism A's a matter ot lact, declares a hor Eastern correspondent ot several important German newspapers, who lias spent six montlis in Canton, tho government named after that city has as little in common with bolshevism, as understood by Lenin, or even the rulers 01 presentday Russia, as, “ let us say, tlio governmental machinery of tho united States, neiow us sunace, has wua true democracy.” in explaining the Can touese became tied up witu Soviet Russia,'the nuormant, Fritz M. Witkowski, relates in the Shanghai ' China Weekly Review ’ that wnen tne late Ur Sun iat-seu inaugurated his Kuomintang Party, and established this party in Canton, nobody who knew him expected him to be content as merely a burgomaster of the Southern capital. We read then;

“ Alter having ousted his enemies from. Clinton, who used to be described just as falsely ‘ Whites,’ as Sun Yatseu was described as ‘ Red,' aiter having cemented his position, so as always to rely on Canton as his mainstay, Sun started out on his big task —namely, tho unification of China by means of a ‘ fight to the finish 1 with tho Cantonese as leaders and future rulers of China “ Sun was a surprising mixture of clear-seeing common sense and unbiassed optimism. - In his book, ‘ iiie Development of China,’ he accurately figured that his intentions would meet with tho unrestricted opposition of tho foreign Powers; while on the other hand he never gave up hope of enlisting foreign capital for the development of an independent and strongly nationalistic China. The hist days of Dr Sun tend to prove that Putnam Weale, one of tho foremost British authors on China, was mistaken when he saw in Japan the principal antagonist to a strong and independent China, it is to-day commonly known that if Dr Sun had not died on his way to the reorganisation conference at Tientsin, he would most probably have enlisted Japanese co-operation for all this schemes.

“Of course, with tho passing nl the ‘Father of the Chinese Republic’ if ere was nobody in his following who could have influenced Japan to change so fundamentally her politics toward China. Matters came to a standstill with Japan watching Canton’s attempts as a neutral onlooker. Canton was not in a position to be content with the neutrality of the principal foreign Powers in the Far East. ‘ Who ,s net for me is against me,’ was their attitude, easily to be understood, it wo recollect Britain’s attitude toward Canton, from the first day, when Dr Sun unrolled the flag of tho white sun in the blue field, until a short time ago, when the Southern troops carried their victorious banners into the very heart of the British spheres of influence, the Yangtso Valley provinces, and forced the British to recognise the Nationalist influence.”

Trent Britain’s position In China at unique, according to tin's informant, who calls attention no(P only to her paramount trade interests and investments in China, but also to the lari that she holds the Crown Colony of Hongkong at the very door of South China. Hongkong's wealth and prosperity, ho reminds us, do not depend on its industry, import or export trade, but on its transhipping. Millions of tons and millions of dollars have found their way yearly into Hongkong, ho notes, for tho more reason of its hnlwarkliko situation in front <{ Canton. But true as it is that tho leading shipping circles in Hongkong fully realised that Hongkong's position depends on its relations with‘the Cantonese and their goodwill, ho avers, it is not to bo wondered at that they refuse to give a helping hand to a Government which aimed at nothing less than the elimination of Hongkong as a shipping centre and storeroom for South Chirm. This correspondent continues •

“One of the first oml foremost schemes of Ur Run was tho development of the port of Whampoa, sitlisted at the mouth of the Pear! River, a plan which ultimately would have tended to diminish the preponderance of Hongkong. So, vbile the Canton Government fully realised ihe Inundation of Great Britain's animosity toward their aims, they duly counted from tlio very outset of their unification campaign upon English antagonism. And they tried and finally .succeeded in countermanding tlio British effort by enlisting the aid of Russia. “I have been informed by reliable sources that a certain Cantonese delegation, sent abroad in order to close contracts with foreign military experts, was rebuked in France, where they tried to negotiate for infantry instructors as well as in Italy, where they were looking for aviators and airplane mechanics. Only after having failed in these countries, the delegation proceeded to Germany, where they employed three expert aviators, and then to Russia, where, as an outcome of their negotiations, an elaborate military agreement was formed. So much has been heard about this military alliance that it might be advisable to mention in this connection a few of its outstanding stipulations. “All Russian experts become automatically subject to Chinese laws and jurisdiction with their transfer into Chinese services. They receive orders only through their respective Chinese superiors. They are struck off the Russian array list. Russia undertakes to supply a number of general staff officers, gunnery experts, and instructors for the Whampoa Academy for frontline officers.

“ That in outline was the first agreement. When later on Russia supplied the Cantonese forces with ammunition and other war materials, this was covered by different contracts with the Trade Mission of the U.S.S.R. Tt may he safely said that if it had not been for the stubborn antagonism of _ the Powers, Russia would never have gained so strong an influence in Cantonese afairs as she enjoys to-day. As one high official put it, Russia only made the best use of the mistakes of her opponents. The Cantonese, on the other hand, are not to bo blamed. 'They looked for frienuds, and the only one they found was Soviet Russia. Conjectures as to what Russia is actually looking for in Canton are naturally hypothetical. Mind, I have not spoken to one Cantonese official who does not know about the ways of the old Russian diplomacy and ils highhanded measures against China. Rut the sparrow in the hand seemed more important than the pigeon on the roof. A certain official mentioned the instance of the Chinese Eastern Railway, which according to the Chinese-Russian agreement is joint property of both countries for the time being and shall bo returned to China after a fixed term. ‘Now,’ my Chinese friend said, ‘you foreigners always maintain that Russia has not the slightest intention of complying with this stipulation, and vou want to make us believe that in time to come China will discover that she has been double-crossed by Russia. That may bo .soon, but why worry to-day? So far Russia has always given ns a deal and wo shall certainly give them credit until wo find mu i. ; > not deservo it.’ There is something in these arguments.” ! 'The wizards in politics, we are then advised, deseire to have it believed that Russia went into the Cantonese game aiming at India, The “man in the street,” with his liking for detectivestory politics, may, believe that, but in the judgment of this German correspondent it it too'far-fetched to influ-

enco the policies of the Soviet Russian Republic, which is “ in desperate need of immediate results.” Then lie tcllfl us that;

“A well-known American writer, on tlio other hand, who lately travelled in the East, sees in the Russian machinations nothing but the Muscovites’ do--iro to stir up trouble for the AngloSaxons, to get, so to say, hold of assets. One day, this gentleman says, the Russian Ambassador will inform his Ilritish colleague that Russia would be willing to give up all connection with Canton in exchange for certain privileges, which England would otherwise never have granted. A nice_ little example of tit-for-tat politics this is. Bub T do not think that the expenses which Russia is incurring in connection with the Nationalistic movement in China would warrant such a game. The truth as usual might he found half way. “ With the steadfast advance of Canton the influence of Russia is naturally growing. Both are, as far as Eastern politics are concerned, of paramout importance, and no issue to-day can be settled satisfactorily without their cooperation. Politically the importance attached to spreading Bolshevist ideas is very much exaggerated by the AngloSaxon Press. “Asfar as trade is concerned, it is surprising how little benefit Russia has had out of the changed commercial conditions. Official Customs reports are at hand, hut I still venture to guess that of the 100 per cent, of former British trade not more than 15 to 20 per cent, has been captured by Russia. The big winners arc Japan and Germany, with a small shave left to American intcterests.”

A Hankow special correspondent of the Loudon ‘ Times ’ writes that in tho Cantonese scheme of things Russians and Russian ideas have without doubt contributed to the success achieved, and he adds that:

“ It is implied, if not said, by many Chinese that tlio whole of tho new organisation has been inspired by Borodin [the Russian adviser of tho Canton Government] and his staff of assistants. Certainly the 11079 army owes its creation largely to skilled Russian instruction and to arms and equipment supplied from Russia. How important is the influence of Borodin may be judged by the foremost place he Ins been taking in public meetings and demonstrations, when in speeches he has identified himself with the Cantonese and their aims by using the word ‘ wo ’ “ The Political Bureau certainly corresponds closely with the Russian idea of a department especially designed to watch and check the doings of other departments. All units of the Cantonese army, from tho headquarters staff downward, have attached to them a branch of this organisation, whose duty it is to control the command, to prepare the way for the army by piopaganda, to organise labor, and generally to forward tho policy ot tho Knomintang.”