" THIRD FORCE IN CHINA "
Stg,—Mr. Tony Gibson, in your issue of February 27th, writes an interesting article on Third Force in China. As one who has recently returned after twenty-five years in China, I find some of his judgements very open to question. We are told, " If it were not for the last two years of American military and economic intervention there might now be peace in China." This is much too simple. It ignores the strenuous efforts of General Marshall and Ambassador Leighton Stuart to halt the fighting, thwarted by both sides. It also ignores the deep-seated nature of the conflict, as if the absence of American armaments, which each side is said to be acing, would bring " peace." I find myself seriously questioning Mr. Gibson's sweeping condemnations of the Central Govern- ment. Actually, there is a large measure of civil and religious liberty ; the " desperate protests of teachers, students and civil servants " against the Government are one piece of evidence. Under a totalitarian or Communist regime it would be another story. I am not taking sides. But as a Christian I want to resist easy-going catch-phrases, and give credit where it is due. Further, the December incident in Canton is hastily described as a separatist movement and linked to " fierce criticism of foreigners." China is not anti-foreign. When incidents happen such as the Kowloon city affair (which Mr. Gibson ignores) feelings are bound to rise. Incidentally, Mr. John Williams, who was wounded in the British Consulate in Canton, is now out of hospital and has been cordially invited to return to the Sun Yat Sen University, a Government institution of 4,000 students, where Mr. Williams has been teaching and doing religious work under the Chinese Y.M.C.A. Twenty years ago this university was a hot-bed of anti-foreign and anti-Christian agitation.
In the last paragraph of his article Mr. Gibson tells us, " The United Nations, China included, has adopted the International Declaration of the Rights of Man." This is premature. The U.N. Commission on Human Rights has produced drafts of an International 'Declaration and of a Covenant on Human Rights. These are being submitted to the 57 member States for comment. The process of re-drafting and final approval by the Assembly will take time. We have obligations, however, under the Charter of the United Nations, and we have general moral obligations to China. Mr. Gibson is quite right there. We can encourage the liberal elements through British United Aid to China, which has . now a scolarship fund, through the British Council, through the Christian universities and schools, and not least through the missions we send to
assist the Chinese churches.—Yours faithfully, RONALD REES.
it Pembridge Place, W.2.
Previous page
