STILL SINISTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 August 1927, Page 6

STILL SINISTER.

BOLSHEVISM IN CHINA. Mr. T. J. Whitaker, of Shanghai, in in interview at Sidney J said: that Bolsiievism, aiming at tne destruction of .British influence in China, was still a sinister force in that country. There were tour factions contending lor power in China, Mr. Whitaker explained, the common objective Ueing possession of Shangnai. Chiang Jh.ai-shek, commander of the southern Nationalist army, at present held Shanghai, but was menaced oy the advance of “Red” controlled armies from Hankow, and Chang-tso-lin’s Shantung troops. These were concentrating on the capture of Nanking, alter winch. Shanghai and Tientsin, as the richest jirizes in Cflina, would be seized. “Chiang is in a dangerous position,” said Mr. Whitaker “and it seems to me that his safety lies in a compromise with the Shantung troops. He represents the conservative Nationalists, and alliance between him and the Hankow Government, which has been dominated by Borodin, the Russian propagandist, has been made impossible by tfleir recent cleavage. The fourth faction is controlled by Feng Yu-hsiaiig, the ‘Christian general,’ occupying Honan. Feng had been neutral so far, although his sympathies are with the Bolsheviks, but he is sure to ally himself with the strongest party.’ , Mr. Whitaker is of the opinion that whatever the outcome of tAe struggle lor power conditions in China will not return to normal for at least five or six years. “Business throughout the country is absolutely at a standstill now,” he said. Commercial men find it impossible to trade, as transportation is dislocated, and the tariff policies of the governments make prices prohibitive. In Shanghai a 50 per cent, tax has been levied on all goods classed as luxuries, and a 12J per cent, tax on ordinary goods. When the generals are in need of money they issue paper notes to the value of millions of dollars, and on these Chinese merchants are required to pay equivalent sums in cash. This paper money is without security, and the slightest military reverse makes it worthless to the holders. In' Shantung province recently 40,000,000 dollars of these worthless notes were issued.” Mr. Whitaker declared that the slogan “anti-foreignisin” was merely a cloak under •which the contending war lords were using their power to loot the country. There was no genuine desire to serve the interests of China. The drastic action taken against Communists by Chiang and the Pekin Government had interfered considerably with Russia’s plans, but Borodin was still a power to be reckoned with at Hankow. The raid on the Communist Legation at Pekin might ho regardjed as having (Saved) A) possible overthrow of the northern forces, as 50,000 Communists had been organised iu the city to disaffect the occupying troops and to rise in rebellion at Easter-time.

“To say that battles in China are not serious attains is incorrect,’’ Mr. Whitaker added. “In the early stages the Cantonese carried all before them, by bribing opposing generals and by employing hundreds of men to disaffect the ranks of the enemy. Lately, however, a number of decisive battles have been fought, and in some of these the slaughter has been tremendous. “There is no question that the northern army is the strongest fighting unit in China, although it suffered many reverses earlier. Government by Ghang-tso-lin would be the best for Britain, and wlTile this is not unlikely, the position is too clouded' for one to forecast with accuracy. Any regime would be better than the Hankow Government, which aims at breaking up the British Empire by defeat in China, spreading into India.”