COMMUNISM IN CHINA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 219, 12 August 1930, Page 6

COMMUNISM IN CHINA.

The activity of Communist elements among the masses of China has led to an uprising in which missionaries again have been the victims of the Chinese. The success of the Communist armies against the National Government troops under Chiang Kaishek recently led to Japan and Britain taking action to preserve their nationals, and later messages report that the British, French, Japanese and American Governments are consulting as to necessary joint action to protect their subjects in Hankow and other ports on the Yangtse-Kiang River. So that there shall be no suspicion of any interference in China’s internal affairs, the cable message states that this action is inspired purely by humanitarian motives. The Powers concerned will only operate where the Nanking Government is unable to protect the lives and property of foreigners. It had been hoped that when the Nanking- Government was established with the success of the Nationalist movement, three years ago, China would emerge from her internecine strife with a settled government, based upon the will of the people, and functioning for them. But the hydra-headed monster, Communism, was stalking in the country, and the activity of the Communist elements amongst the Chinese peasant farmers and the poorly paid workers led to an uprising against the authority of Nanking. It is an ironic fact for Chiang Kaishek that these two elements contributed largely to the success of the Nationalists when they won their way to power. Alarmed by the advance of Communism, the Nationalist Government struck savagely to exterminate the carriers of dangerous ideas, as one commentator states. This action resulted in the alienation of the sympathy of the masses, leaving the Government with the support of its army and the business elements. Other factions arose under Feng Hu-siang and Yen Hsi-han with whom the Communists joined. Thus, the Government had “no passion of public support to fall back on, but could only rely on the loyalty of its professional troops. And this means, in essence, that it must rely upon its ability to collect funds,” to quote the commentator referred

to. “It is in this lack of any vital connection between the interests of the masses and the fate of the Government,” he adds, “that the cause for recurring' warfare in China is to be found. So long- as it seems to the average Chinese that it makes no difference in the size of his farm, or the size of the pay envelope, just so long' the conflict between professional armies will go on. Not until a Government is formed that actually does exist to care for the welfare of the common man will China know an end to these annual personal campaigns.” The latest advices from China are not reassuring, for the “military prospects of Cliiang Kai-shek are not regarded as hopeful in view of the southern Communists’ advance down the Yangtse River.” The hand of the Soviet is to be seen in China’s latest war, for the Communist army is said to be financed by Soviet agents.