A DISTRESSFUL COUNTRY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 305, 11 December 1929, Page 6

A DISTRESSFUL COUNTRY

Perhaps if we realised that the troubles in China reflect appreciably, even if indirectly, upon the prosperity of our own country we would take some greater and more intelligent interest in them. As a matter of fact, so long as these internal troubles persist, j long will there be closed to British industry one of its biggest and most profitable markets. This, in turn, means a reduction in the purchasing power of those engaged in British industry, , who are the biggest and best customers for our own staple products. It is thus very bad news for the New Zealand farmer, and for the people of this country as a community, to be constantly hearing of disturbances that threaten the stability of the Nationalist Government seated at Nanking. The word that has been coming through during the last few days indicates the possibility that even Nanking itself may have to be abandoned to mutinous and rebellious elements among the Government's own soldiery. While the more recent messages dwell most on the measures that are being taken for the protection of European residents, they are otherwise, by implication at any rate, of a most ominous character.

It has to be remembered that it is not only in this area that the Chinese Government is beset with difficulties. Away up the Yangtse river and to the west in the interior of the country the Government troops have been more or less successfully assailed by disloyal “war lords.” Not only this, but the same has to be said with regard to the southern region, of which Canton is the main centre of population. It may thus be realised how precarious is the position of the Government of which so much had been hoped when official recognition was extended to it by interested foreign Powers. To tell the truth, this Government, has proved something , a disappciutcuieut, Uut only tu

the other Powers, but also to the great body of the Chinese people. It is this that has given the opposition organisation, known as the Kuominchun, its chance to assert itself on the ground that the Kuomintang has failed dismally to fulfil its promise. Behind this, of course, there are personal ambitions, the desire for well paid official jobs, and private jealousies all at work to promote strife. When we come to recognise fully how closely this Government is encompassed with difficulties at home, we can best understand how empty must be the accusations of armed aggression laid against it by the Soviet. It certainly has quite enough within its own boundaries to engage undivided attention without inviting retaliation from a strong military Power such as is -Russia.