Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1942. BRITAIN AND ASIA.

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1942, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1942. BRITAIN AND ASIA.

to the cabled reports received, the authorities in India have the situation in hand, the response to the Congress Party’s incitement to a mass civil disobedience campaign not being on a large scale. It was certain that some fanatics in the Party, and University students, always eager to demonstrate, would create mischief, but the damage so far has been comparatively small and the number of casualties not extensive. If this calm continues, the worst should be over soon, and another opportunity given to Indians to preserve peace at home and to co-operate with the British against the Japanese foe. It would be premature to consider the Congress Party agitation as ended, but, so far, the authority’s firmness justifies optimism, that no large-scale rising will develop. One interesting sideline do the Indian events, was the evidence given by Chinese quarters of pro-Congress Party sympathies, with an official willingness to attempt mediation if invited. For Britain to ask China to intervene would be a confession of weakness, and in striking comparison with the pre-war attitude of Britain. Marshal Kai-shek visited India during the recent Anglo-Indian negotiations, and failed then io persuade the Congress Party, or the British, to come Io terms. It is difficult to believe that Chinese mediation is necessary now. Britain would certainly “lose face.” the unpardonable sin in Asiatic lands, if she attain urged the Chinese to induce the Congress malcontents to submit. If the Chinese desire for their own sake, in order 1o get, regular supplies of war material from India, to undertake a mission of conversion of the Congress Party, that would be another question, with British prestige not involved. The fact has to be grasped that British authority in the Far East, has received such heavy blows from the Japanese. that it is doubtful if former prestige can ever be restored, no matter how complete the forthcoming British victories. All the Native races have been impressed by the Japanese successes. The indignities inflicted upon the captured British, will not be readily forgotten by the Asiatics. Never again will “a handful of Whites” be able to rule millions ot Natives, as in earlier days, nor will the superiority of the Whites in administrative, social and financial affairs, be accepted by the Natives so completely.

It is the Americans and not the British, who are first in Native esteem to-day. The Chinese, for instance, look to U.S.A, airmen for active aid, it is U.S.A, supplies that are relied upon, and U.S.A, engineers and others mainly entrusted with assisting the Chinese, generally. The fact that the British are too engaged elsewhere will not impress the Chinese, or other Asiatics, hard pressed or conquered, to-day, by the Japanese. Britain has already promised India full independence after the war, but she will have to go further. It seems improbable that she can retain any Chinese territory, Hong Kong included, and her hold on Malaya will be nominal. Minor Colonies may continue to be supervised; but her day of territorial holdings in Asia is ending. Iler post-war policy will have to be framed on lines similar to that ol the U.S.A., which specialises on commerce without land acquisition.