Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd., 1929. CHINA’S PLIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1929, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd., 1929. CHINA’S PLIGHT

QPINIONS appear to differ in New Zealand about the duty to respond to the appeal being issued by the Mayor of Wellington, in connection with the serious famine in certain provinces in China, where many millions have already died through famine’s effects, and many more millions are facing starvation. Against the common duty of all men to help each other in the hour of trouble, irrespective of race or creed, are the facts that New Zealand has many calls on her charitable purse, and that China’s troubles are mainly a consequence of Chinese misconduct. The Ward Ministry has declined to give a monetary grant, but has offered to pay for transmission to China of funds collected. This Government coyness is likely to be taken as a lead, which is somewhat to be regretted. The Dominion could not be expected to give a large sum, but a grant from the Treasury would have shown practical sympathy, and helped to develop fraternity among nations. Time brings its changes, and who can say that sometime, in the future China and New Zealand may not change places as supplicant and donor. Apart from nature’s ravages causing distress, China has not settled her internal dissensions, and the civil war is expected to be resumed when the Spring weather permits easier transport. That sort of manufactured trouble alienates much foreign sympathy for the Chinese people, although the majority of these are blameless, and should be further pitied. The huge population of 400 millions, the vast territorial area termed ‘ ‘ China ’ ’ by

outsiders, and the many races and languages comprising the Chinese Empire, make peaceful administration difficult, and the path easy for those eager for self aggrandisement. Foreign nations, in the past, have not been slow to take advantage of China’s helplessness, and although a wiser policy has been developed of late, the Powers’ mutual fears l and jealousies have added to China’s ordeals. Any practical help given in this hour of trial would not be more than is warranted, apart from any benevolent aspirations.

Britain’s new policy of conciliating the Kuomintang has caused some of the ill-feeling against the British to evaporate, but propagandists could soon re-arouse Chinese passions should they so desire. It was hoped that the Nationalists’ successes on the battlefields would, at last, give China stable government, but Nanking and Hankow are now at variance, and none can predict, with any confidence, what the outcome will be, if the appeal to arms recurs. The difficulty of

following, or understanding, Chinese happenings, has caused public opinion in Britain and the United States to be tired of the whole Chinese question, and the respective Governments are, thus, less inclined to take strong lines. As a consequence, old rights of foreigners are being usurped, and the path opened for bribery and corruption all round. Whatever else the Chinese disagree about, they are unanimous that dispoiling the foreigner is a national duty, and this has been done wherever practicable. It is said that but for the presence of the British Defence F orce, the wealth of Shanghai would long ago have been seized by the military free-booters, and as that Force is being gradually decreased, there are prophets who declare that the looting of Shanghai is an event likely at any time. It is said that the Chinese people themselves have no illusions about the Nationalist Government. “Never in my forty years in China,” writes a veteran missionary, “have I seen the Chinese people so oppressed, so utterly disheartened as they are today. The Nanking Government cannot last long. The leaders are hoarding tip their millions-against the day when the crash comes.” Famine and brigands are adding to the hardships endured by the Chinese —and these are the people New Zealanders are now asked to help.