From Week to Week

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1941, Page 8

From Week to Week

(By

H. Winston Rhodes).

HELPING JAPAN AND CHINA. More and more evidence accumulates to show that Britain and America are both seeking closer relations with the Chungking Government. Considerable credits have been advanced, aeroplanes have been promised and recently the Australian Government, which must share a large part of responsibility for the closing of the Burma Road, has announced its intention of sending a diplomatic representative to Chungking.

Japanese spokesmen have shown that they are convinced that America is making increased efforts to aid China, and that trade relations between’ Japan and America are becoming strained. It is of some Importance that the New York offices of some sixty Japanese firms have been closed and their staffs withdrawn. Nevertheless, it seems to be true that the American rearmament programme and American aid to Britain are being considerably hampered by the fa'ct that so much shipping space is available for the transport of oil to J'apan. Last November the amount of oil exported to Japan had increased by 250 per cent as compared with the amount exported a year previously. There is at present no evidence to suggest that this abnormal rate of export has been at all decreased. Four ships were transferred to Panama a few weeks ago and then used for the transport of oil to Japan. CHUNGKING EXPLOITS AID t A factor of some importance to note in relation to the Chinese war is that as British and American aid to Chungking increases, Chiang Kaishek’s need to rely upon the broad masses of the Chinese people for popular support diminishes. It has been noted by several well-informed commentators that clashes between the Central armies under Chiang Kai-shek and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies assume greater proportions at the times when British and American aid to China seems most certain. These clashes became most severe after the re-opening of the Burma Road and the changes which took place in the foreign policies of Britain and America.

This is not a matter for cynical comment, it is a matter which Is vital to the whole Pacific basin. The Chungking Government, under the domination of Chiang Kai-shek and his party, the Kuomintang, and with the support of the banking interests, always has been and must continue to be opposed to the development of a modern China based on political and economic democracy. If it can rely on Britain and America rather than as in the past on the Soviet Union and the tactic of the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies in mobilising and educating the peasant masses it would obviously prefer to do so. But it is becoming more and more clear that only the mobilisation, arming and educating of the peasant masses can succeed in keeping Japan at bay. In other words, it is essential for all friends of democracy to remember that the preservation of the United Front in China is the only way to prevent a Japanese conquest of China or a' Chungking Tokio agreement.

' This is being realised more fully lit America than elsewhere. Numbers of shrewd observers as well a's intelligent democrats are urging that any American support for Chungking must be given only on condition that Chiang Kai-shek and his followers do not exploit it In order to renew civil war and entrench themselves in such a position that they will be able to suppress all popular movements and demands for democratic reforms. A WARNING TO CHUNGKING. The neutrality pact signed by Japan and the Soviet Union had some bearing on the recent clashes between the Chinese armies. Th* fact that the Soviet Union signed the pact served as a gentle reminder to Chungking that it was at least possible for the Soviet Union to cease being China’s friend of friends, to use Lin Yutang’s phrase, If Chungking did not mend its ways with regard to the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies. The pact was signed only after the serious clashes had taken place, after the increased aid from Britain and America to China had given the Chungking Government a certain confidence that it could take the risk of provoking encounters that might lc?d to civil war. The pact was a • to Chungking that if capita -t, financial or feudal elements wei e to have such power In the Chinese Government that they could destroy all popular movements and attempt to destroy armies whose main strength lies in their support by the peasantry, then it was quite possible for Moscow to recognise only the Eighth Route Army and the people’s administrations established by it in the areas where it has been fighting. A NEW GOVERNOR. It has been pointed out that the Generalissimo, Chiang Kai-shek, has always been exceedingly skilful in establishing his personal friends and relations in key positions. In the army these key men have all been trained in civil war and in antiCommunist activities rather than in so-called united front activities and in anti-Japanese fighting. In the Kuomintang, the political party which Chiang Kai-shek has made his own, it is the same; and in the econ-

omic life of China the two brothers-in-law of the Generalissimo occupy the most prominent positions.

Not so very long ago General Chang Chun, a' well-known and close associate of Chiang Kai-shek was appointed to the position of Governor of Czechwan. Chinese capitaJisrn as everyone is aware, bases itself today on this western state and General Chun is the leader of the Political Science Group which represents the interests of the important banks. Furthermore General Chun is regarded in China, as the whole Political Science Group is regarded, as pro-Japanese. The appointment is at least a straw showing which way the wind blows

What has been said demonstrates at least one important, point that must never be forgotten or veiled; and that point is that, whether we like it or not, it is impossible to ignore the political structure of a country engaged in war. It is impossible to ignore the fact that in China under all United Front slogans lies the bald reality that there is such a thing as a war between classes representing different interests. If civil war breaks out in China many people will be forced to make decisions and to take sides, people who would never have dreamt of doing so at an earlier period. And the Chinese peasants will be forced to endure still more suffering before their freedom can be won.