The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1948. CHINA TRAGEDY: THE FORGOTTEN WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22655, 4 June 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1948. CHINA TRAGEDY: THE FORGOTTEN WAR

T HE tragedy of China grows steadily worse. Reports continue to tell of savage fighting and heavy casualties and the prospects of peace are fading, not becoming brighter. No nation has endured such suffering as the Chinese in the past decade. Eleven years after the Japanese struck again to add to their earlier gains in the conquest of Manchuria and three years after the ‘‘peace” the Chinese are still at war, but this time among themselves. They are fighting with the same savagery.

The war today is different in respect of the attitude shown towards it abroad. Most foreigners, while still sympathetic, have become accustomed to strife in China, and as a consequence have lost sight of its ramifications and the suffering it is causing. It is a forgotten war. The opposing parties in the conflict are the Nationalists, as represented by the Nanking Government, and the Chinese Communists. In a democracy the latter would be termed the Opposition, but China knows no such political counterpart, with the result, as we see it, that the field, not the debating chamber, is the battleground and the rifle the weapon, not the ballot box. Until such time as a real political opposition is developed, and this will lake time, national issues will probably continue to be settled by war.

Big Constitutional Reforms

Fortunately, a new China is in the process of evolution, although Its progress is, judged by western standards, disappointingly slow. But: to the Chinese, and that is what counts, progress in relation.to their centuries old civilisation lias been considerable. "Who would have been rash enough to predict 15 years ago that in 1948 China would have a constitution and a democratically-clccted National Assembly and President?

Today the Nanking Government’s authority is strongly challenged by the armed might, of the Chinese Communists. Nearly all Manchuria and large parts of North China have been lost, the Communists are-active in the Yangtze Valley even on the hills within sight of Nanking itself. The Nationalists admit that owing to heavy casualties only seven of their 13 armies are still in action, and that, nine of the 89 American-trained divisions have been destroyed.

The opinion is expressed by a special correspondent of the London Times that, militarily, the Government, would he in a much stronger position today if it had abandoned Manchuria to the Communists last year. Such action had been prevented by reasons of “face.” ITe states that many of t*he best divisions were sent to Manchuria and lost, and now the Government forces arc insufficient to hold North China.

Some help is being given to the Nationalists by the United States, and the question arises as to what extent Russia is assisting the Communists. As far as enn be aseertained by observers in Nanking, Russia is not directly aiding the Chinese Reds, but has made important indirect contributions. 9

Russia enabled the Communists to take over vast Japanese arms dumps in Manchuria containing sufficient supplies, it is estimated. to maintain the Kwantung Army for 10 years. At the same time Russia has denied the use of the port of Dairen to the Nationalists. Russia’s friendly support in the rear has greatly encouraged the Communists. There would appear at present to he no need for Russia to interfere on the same scale as the United States, as events are all in favour of the Communists.

More American Aid Expected

That the United States will give more aid to China with the same objective in mind as tbo Marshall Plan for Europe seems certain, but its promptness and extent will depend upon satisfactory assurances and action by the Nanking Government to institute reforms. Already, following American representations, the Government has been placed on a more democratic basis, but this must be in spirit ns well as ip ibe letter. Nanking has also been told that an attemnt must be made to reduce corruption as much as possible in official places and that more must be done bv social reforms for the welfare of tlie Chinese people. These are terrific tasks, but there is little doubt that if a genuine effort is made to improve the administration. American aid will ho generous and the scandals associated with the wastage of UNRRA supplies will be forgotten. This fact, however, remains. Soon the Chinese Communists may he expected to have the whole of Manchuria, which is larger than France and Germany combined, rich in minerals and crops, and bordered bv Russia on three sides. It must also be remembered that the Chinese Communists have strong support among their fellow countrymen, although this is being lessened by increasing excesses and brutality. Recent, territorial gains have been considerable. and the fate of China bangs in the balance. China is the key to Asia in which the course of events tuny be determined within the next few months. A forgotten conflict, its outcome willjie as important ns the results which emerge from present-day activities in Europe and the Middle East.