General Chiang Kai-shek in India
It is a somewhat different note which is struck by the leader of the Chinese, General Chiang Kai-shek ; but the message he wrote last Saturday was addressed not to his own countrymen, but to the people of India whom he had been visiting. It was for this reason that he stressed the nature of the world struggle, which he described as one between "freedom and slavery, between light and darkness " ; for he was seeking to persuade the Indian people that it is only by victory over the Axis Powers that they can hope to attain their own nationalist ideal. He did not hesitate to tread on delicate ground, and did so with tact and judgement. In India he had not only been concerting plans with the civil and military authorities, but conferring also with leaders of the Congress Party and the Moslems in the hope of learning more about their attitude to Indian politics and to the war effort. He has made it clear that he sympathises with their nationalist aims—as what generous-minded person does not?— and did not hesitate to add that he hopes Great Britain will as speedily as possible give them real political power. But he held forward the larger ideal of mankind in defence of justice against aggression as the condition of the attainment of the national ideal of the Indians ; and perhaps made them realise that just as it is incumbent on Britain to satisfy the aspirations of the Indians if she is to count on their support, so it is incumbent on the Indians to embrace the wider issue and thus prove their capacity for independence. In this wise address simplicity was reconciled with diplomacy, frankness with judgement.
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