VISIT TO INDIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22199, 17 February 1942, Page 5

VISIT TO INDIA

Chinese Leader Greatly Impressed LONDON. February 15. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek has met Pandit Jawharlal Nehru for the fourth time at New Delhi. Interviewed to-night, the Chinese leader said: “I have beeq in India narly a week and what I have seen has tremendously impressed me.” Marshal Chiang Kai-shek will arrive in Lahore to-day. He will be received by the Governor and the Premier of the Punjab and the military commander of Lahore. The Chinese leader, in the course of a visit to the defences of the Khyber Pass on the North-west Frontier, was presented with an address of welcome by the tribes there, states a press message from Peshawar. “We have heard of your victories against the Japanese. We hope that they will be the forerunner of many victories to ceftne," stated the message. “In spite of minor reverses we are quite confident of ultimate victory for the Allies and the world will be freed from the tyrants.” The Generalissimo replied: “I nope that you will join the Allied cause so that freedom from aggression can be brought to the world.” Madame Chiang Kai-shek in an address to women at New Delhi said that the Japanese captured Chinese children and used them for blood transfusions. They also sent boatloads of Chinese children to Japan, where they were trained for espionage. Chinese labourers employed by the Japanese received injections of opium and heroin as part payment. Significance of Visit The visit of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek to India is important from three special reasons according to well-informed commentators. It proclaims to the world and both the Viceroy and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek have affirmed it in the following terms that China, India and all peoples of the British Empire are comrades in arms bound together by mutual trust and respect in resisting the common aggressor. China is fighting as an honoured and equal member of the ABCD group of nations and her leadership is assured in the rebuilding of Asia when Japanese slavery has been destroyed. Secondly, the visit will enable Marshal Chiang Kai-shek and the military authorities of India to work out in further detail plans already in operation for united action in defence of Burma. Thirdly. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek is taking the opportunity of having conversations with Indian political leaders, both Hindu and Moslem. He has had considerable experience In his own country in persuading 10 divergent elements to work together as a national term for the common weal. If he can contribute towards bringing together the two great racial and religious communities in a united effort for the defence of India he will have rendered that country and, indeed, the British Empire as a whole, a service of incalculable value for the future as well as for the immediate present. Outstanding Achievements Recognised The King has conferred on Marshal Chiang Kai-shek the insignia of an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the Allied cause.