CI - IINESE PUZZLE
Sot,—Mr. Michael Lindsay's letter in your issue of August 3oth prompts me to ask how the Chinese Communists square their oft-repeated concern for the execution of urgent and widespread reforms with their relentless attacks on Government forces and the continued disruption of communi- cations vital (and this must be stressed) to economic rehabilitation. One of the main causes of the high cost of living and the sad scarcity of commodities is the present inability to transport products originating in one part of the country to regions where they are desperately needed. Having made a careful analysis of the facts extending over a wide period, I have also to fmd a satisfactory explanation of the Communists' continued refusal to enter the Government, especially after their solemn decision to do so as a result of agreements entered into earlier this year at the highest level. Surely, as members of the administration, they would be in a better position to exert their zeal for reform and rehabilitation than to shout slogans from „behind newly-erected defence works. I am as conscious as Mr. Lindsay of the shortcomings of the Government (and the Chinese government is not alone in this respect), but it is palpable non- sense to represent, as Communist sympathisers continue to do, everything the Government does as wicked and all that occurs within the Communist areas as relatively Utopian. Students of Chinese affairs are well aware of the desperate need of any Chinese Government for perhaps as many as half a million well-trained civil servants, yet I think Mr. Lindsay will grant that such numbers cannot be provided overnight, and furthermore that their training is inevitably delayed by the continuation of civil strife.
Mr. Lindsay quotes the appointment of Mr. Li Sien-liang as Mayor of Tsingtao as an example of the Government's choice of corrupt adminis- trators " even to those with Japanese connections." It may interest Mr. Lindsay to know that Mr. Li, whilst apparently co-operating with the Japanese, was, I am reliably informed, engaged in underground activities on behalf of the Government, and his appointment is a reward for the meritorious, services he rendered during this period at the risk of his life. Mr. Lindsay then mentions that in areas in north and east China the people are better fed ind clothed. They should be, since there was little fighting in these regions and consequently the economic life of the peoPle was far less disrupted' than it was further south.
Mr. Lindsay takes delight in referring to the legal Government of China as an unreformed Kuomintang Government, yet he should be aware that, as a result of at least two reshuffles since the Japanese sur- render, well-known liberals have- been brought into the administration and one of China's leading personalities with no party affiliations, Mr. Wang Yun-wu, late managing director of the Commercial Press in Shanghai, has been given the important portfolio of Minister of Economic Affairs. The main reason that China is not at this moment blessed with a coalition government representing all parties is the unwillingness of the Communists to co-operate.
American activities are also misrepresented. A limited number of U.S. forces remain to complete their mission, which, as the world is aware, is the rounding up of the last Japanese in China and effecting his repatria- tion to Japan. There are still something like a million Japanese scattered aver the north-eastern provinces, and the Americans are helping to keep open the necessary lines of communication which will enable them to be sent home in slue course. All friends of China are naturally longing to see the emergence of a united nation under a popularly-elected Govern- ment. Events within and without China's borders unfortunately impede this much-desired consummation, but I cannot help feeling that perhaps the greatest enemies of all are those who fail to present the Chinese scene in perspective.—Yours sincerely, GERALD SAMSON. Vincent House, Pembridge Square, W. 2.
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