BOLSHEVISM IN CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1927, Page 6

BOLSHEVISM IN CHINA.

It was perhaps hardly surprising, that, the European population of Shanghai should view with sortie misapprehension the handing over to China of the courts which have hitherto been presided over by European Judges, at least so far as major eases were concerned, news of which was cabled yesterday. Great Britain has made it clear, however, that the theory that China cannot govern herself except under the tutelage of Western Powers must be abandoned. Her recent note to the Government at Peking lays explicit stress upon the British attitude in this regard. That there are Europeans in Shanghai who recognise the wisdom of this attitude and the necessity for combatting the Bolshevik influences which are now at work in China by ‘other means than that of' military force is evidenced by the formation of a “Constitutional Defence League” in Shanghai. The objects of this league are the rebutting of 'Bolshevist propaganda and the inculcating of stabilising doctrines in the minds of the Chinese peoples. Already the league is issuing its own journal and it has also distributed many thousands of volumes dealing with the danger of the Bolshevik menace to China herself. The league is evidently in close touch with the Bolshevist movement in China, and is using all its powers to thwart its influence by making available informative material which will give the Chinese the facts that the Bolshevik propaganda either ignores or distorts. The league claims that its efforts so far have had a marked effect and that the Chinese themselves are requesting further information. For too long, says the league, only the Communistic point of view has been made available (o the younger generation of Chinese. His education judged by W’estern standards is elementary, but his patriotism is undoubted, and it Is not surprising that to immature minds the heady special pleading of the Bolsheviks appeals with a force which finds expression in the hatred of all Europeans except the Bolsheviks themselves. The latter have very skilfully directed this blind unreasoning dislike' of the European into a peculiar hatred of the Britisher. It is no wonder that British residents In the East feel that it is time their country’s point of view is made as clear to the Chinese as is that of the Bolsheviks, The work of the Shanghai League is on the lines laid down in the British Note, and on this account will probably receive the hearty support of the new Minister to Peking, who has been chosen to definitely inaugurate the new British policy in China.