The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1946. NO PEACE IN CHINA.

Evening Star, Issue 25939, 2 November 1946, Page 6

The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1946. NO PEACE IN CHINA.

After several days’ negotiations in the Chinese capital, during which the hopes of peace between the Government forces and those of the Yenan had appeared increasingly brighter—- “ the chances of peace are better than ever,” a Communist spokesman declared last week—pessimism is once more in the ascendancy. The latest report suggests a disappointing lack of co-operation in the Nanking discussions on the part of the Government whioh seemed assured from the outset when Marshal Chiang Kai-shek left for Formosa as General Chou En-lai and his emissaries arrived —and Communist disgust with the developments. Although the Communists “ decline to state that the peace outlook is hopeless,” the systematic preparations for a state of 1 ‘ complete formal war’* which they think of in terms of “fifteen to twenty years,” tell their own sorry story. After having known war in varying degrees of violence for nearly ten years the Chinese could reasonably be expected to welcome any steps that would mean poace and prospects of regaining prosperity. But in the long, dreary, and weary negotiations the old Oriental fear of ‘‘losing face” seems to have influenced the approaches and responses of both parties, with Cliiang’s Government not prepared to cede anything of its military dictatorship. . China is very much in the dark politically, and her interpretations of democracy and Communism differ materially from the views of the Western Powers. The Communists claim that their demands for a coalition Government responsible to Congress, with tho Army .playing no part in civil affairs, represent true democracy for China. Acceptance of these demands would mean the establishment of a .regime so different from that at present ruling that the Kuomintang is not prepared to participate in.full and free discussions, and of course other issues, such as territorial acknowledgments, become substantially irrelevant. All observers agree that China at present is in a chaotic economic position. Inflation is such that it has been reported that to get a shirt laundered costs 2,000 Chinese dollars—perhaps not an unreasonable charge when it is realised that a cake of soap costs 3,000 dollars. Starvation is bad lii some areas where famine has been rife, transportation is in a hopeless muddle,, the people are war-weary and apathetic—in fact, the whole position is one of utter hopelessness. In such state, then, how can China stand up to the threat of prolonged guerrilla war? Chiang’s armies have’been substantially bolstered, by American aid, which has roused bitter comment from the Communists, and it is increasingly evident that the support of the United States has been an unintentional factor in the developments. The Americans, however, are becoming less tolerant of .the situation and its adverse developments, and their aid henceforth would appear to be based on the Kuomintang assuming a more amenable all-round attitude. Civil war possibly would not last long if the Government were forced to rely solely on its own depleted resources, but even limited civil conflict can only add to China’s worries and retard her progress.