AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

Evening Star, Issue 20472, 1 May 1930, Page 10

AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

China is still torn with internal strife. Scarcely a week passes without the report of some outrage coming over tho cables. Two things make life a burden to tho people. One is the food shortage, and the other is tho prevalence of banditry. For tho famine conditions that prevail tho bodies of armed robbers that roam about the country are largely responsible. During the last month or two also the fears of the population m a large portion of tho country have been aggravated by the throat oi civil war. It has been reported that two prominent war lords (Feig Yu-hsiang and Ten Hsi-shan)- have lieen concentrating large bodies ol troops witli the object ot challenging the supremacy ol the .Nan n . ;vc. nr' ru. ■ .va. - net;, r ■■■; ! i.r. I;;;'-. la oral j.- a, v , i ■ii.'- ' ■ nge, nr*. n., aim a,, 3.n0- ,u ngs c, mpleteU an arrangement I'm the active assist aneo of the Manchurian ruler, Chaim, Tso-lin’s son. It has been suggested that the. revolting generals will be afraid to push matters to a conclusion, but whatever the outcome may be there is evidence of real danger with elaborate warlike movements taking place. The position must become clearer soon, for the summer is approaching, when the conditions are favourable lor null tary operations. One oilier Jaclor .helps to maintain a state ol unrest and Jaw-

lessness. That is agitation by Communists. Five years ago Soviet penetration was at its height, and though in tho end the Bolshevists were expelled from China they have left a legacy the effects of which are apparent to-day. Jn anticipation of May Day, no doubt, the Beds have been active lately, and in Shanghai many arrests have been made. Presumably the activities of the Communists in that city arc not more p -enounced than in other places, hut in Shanghai good government lias been established and maintained, enabling repressive measures to be undertaken. According to a statement by the Hon. \V. W. Aster recently, extraordinary vitality has been exhibited in Shanghai, and administrative and political problems have been successfully grappled with. The city has passed through a perilous time since tho revolution of 1911, but now a striking measure of stability has been attained, and in the last two years the municipal council has been engaged in reorganising tho public services and developing the road, harbour, and transport facilities. Tho number of Chinese members in tho council has been increased, and experts from outside have been engaged to organise tho various civil departments on modern lines. On the bigger question of policy tho council has invited Mr Justice Feetham, of South Africa, who, it will be remembered, was chairman of the Irish Boundary Commission, to investigate and advise on the whole problem of the future of Shanghai. This is all very hopeful. With this important city as a stable base both the Chinese and the foreigners, working together amicably, as they are doing at tho moment, would bo able to exert a bone ficial influence on the rest of the country, and bo a strong support to the present National Government so long as it endeavours to rule with equity in ho no affairs and justice to the foreign population.