The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1929. RUSSIA AND CHINA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 July 1929, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, J ULY 19, 1929. RUSSIA AND CHINA.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock in flawera Manaia. Normanby. Okaiawa. Ejltham. Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton Hurleyvilla. Pataa, Waveriey. Mokoia Whasainara. Ohangai, Moremere. Franc* Road, and Ararata.

Thongh the opinion has been expressed in, Japan that the threats of war issuing from Russia and China are merely species of bluff, from this distance it appears that if “bluff” is being indulged in it is being carried dangerously far. Other nations have severed diplomatic relations before this without coming to blows —the events which followed upon the “Arcos’ ’ raid in Britain may .be cited —but in the present situation there is a good deal of dangerous powder which, once ignited, might be beyond the powers of the politicians, diplomats, and others to extinguish. The break between Britain and Russia is not comparable on many points with the breach which has opened between the latter country and China. In the former case Britain objected to Communistic propaganda being carried on by Russians established commercially in the country, and she sent Russian representatives about their business. Russian teeth were gnashed over the incident, but as the boundaries of the two countries do not adjoin there was no possibility of precipitate action by aggrieved Russia. In regard to the Chinese affair Russia has more to lose than opportunities for propaganda. A line of communication which she regards as vital to her interests has been seized by .the Chinese and Russian opinion is incensed and l fears for selfinterest aroused. There is report of the massing of troops by either side and that is in itself a dangerous sign, for a hasty step now may Tesult in a clash /and the situation would, thereby be taken out of the hands of the politicians and be dominated by the military factions of either country. It has been .said that China, is in no position to fight an aggressive or defensive war; others scout the idea of Russia taking the field as a military power. But there are many phases of the national life of both countries l which the. outside world does not know. Russia is no longer the Bolshevist country we .pictured it to bo during the year following the Revolution. There is still much that is wrong with her organisation apparently, but it cannot bo denied that she has organised order out of the chaos left by the Revolution—and she has an army and :i populace which lias been taught to expect to be called upon to support that army in time of need. As to China, there is no one who can give ain authoritative forecast as to how she, would respond to a call upon her as one united nation, but it is known that the China which has been pictured as a giant awakening from a long sleep, has made some progress along 'the lines of nationalism. There is still an Old

China, peopled by millions who cannot read or write and who do not dimly understand) the meaning of the moves and counter-moves of the armies which have warred, over their lands for years. But there is also a New China with its millions who are both literate and patriotically ambitious. An authoritative writer in the “Nineteenth Century” recently declared that China has changed more during the last three years than during the previous three thousand years. How long she will take to find herself if she continues to develop in the manner of the last few years camnot be foretold, but the process might be hastened by the call to face such a national crisis as now threatens: Additional interest is given to the present situation by the possibility of Japan being embroiled. That country’s interests, power and probable re-action to certain circumstances can bo ganged with something more approaching accuracy. The possibility of a threat to her Manchurian and Chinese interests makes it impossible to leave her out of the reckoning of the possibilities of a clash between Russia, ami China. The Notes passing between the diplomatic representatives of the two latter countries may be merely an expression of their respective ideas of ‘ ‘ bluff, ’ ’ but they appear to be extremely provocative and either, <or both, participants 1 may find circumstances forcing them to “save face” by action.