THE FAMINE IN CHINA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20592, 15 December 1928, Page 11

THE FAMINE IN CHINA.

TO I'Uh: EDITOR Sib, A letter by Mr J. M. Bates in Wednesday’s issue calls attention to the famine in China. China to-day is the last great undivided prize, over the division of which the Imperialist Powers of Britain, United States, and Japan arc squabbling. Naturally the Chinese capitalist class is not willing to allow foreign Imperialism the sole right to control the enormous resources of China and exploit the millions of Chinese workers. i".c competition among the Imperialist countries for division of the “ spoils ” is the cause of the chaotic condition and present famine in China. It is ,the working class of China, oppressed and exploited bv thc foreign Imperialist Powers and Its own bourgeoisie, that feels the full effects of the scramble for plunder. The working class of China has no illusions as to the nature of Imperialism, faced as it : s with its brutal effects. The intense antagonism of the Chinese working class to Imperialism makes it difficult for the Powers to increase their influence in China, and consequently ways and means must be employed to prove that Imperialism is really of benefit to China ant! that it will have peaceful results, in spite of the foreign-troops on ■ Chinese soil. The Institute of Pacific Relations is ft pacifist organisation intended to promote thc interests of Imperialism among the subject races of the Pacific by attempting to hide the pVedatory nature of Imperialism and the preparations for war •in the Pacific behind fine phrases about “peace.” What, then, ia behind the proposal to send surplus wheat from New Zealand to China? The same motive as prompts the millionaire to ■ allay the condition of those who produce his wealth, lu order to obtain more contented and. therefore, more efficient- Vage-slaves, is behind the proposal to send assistance to the starving millions of China, who owe their position partly to British Imperialist policy. Just as it pays the.millionaire to give away some of his surplus wealth, 9G would a million bushels of wheat make the going easier for British Imperialism, or, at least, the Institute of Pacific Relations thinks so. The scheme, liowever. is not likely to be out into operation. The mass of the Chinese people have too much proof of the real objojet of thc Imperialist Powers the partition and enslavement ,of China, to bo persuaded by a little chriSty of the pacific intentions of any one of them. It ia net Imperialism, and its tool the Institute of Pacific Relations, that is interested in assisting the toiling masses of China, but the working class of New Zealand and other countries, for all have the same common enemy—lmperialism.— l am, etc., A. F. Marshall.