CHINA AND JAPAN

AT long last, progress is being made in the West with research into Far-Eastern social problems, with materials collected by indigenous scholars. In spite of the pioneer work done since the middle of last century by a .few individuals who have spent years of labour interpreting _Chinese and Japanese Art, History, Literature and Legend from original sources, it is still true to say with Mme. Chiang Kai-shek that : " Had the occidental even casually studied the ancient and modern histories of China, he would have formed quite a different conceptioh of the Chinese people . . ."

and the same applies to our present conception of the Japanese. The North-Eastern Asia Sendnar of the University of California is to be congratulated on its research plans and on this, its first publication, which contains 178 pages of fascinating narrative and some 15o pages of supporting document's trans- lated from their original Japanese and Chinese. There is also an excellent criticial bibliography and a chronological table of the earliest periods, correcting the legendary Japanese dates. The tragedy is that in these days of darkness, and confusion, the second and third volumes have not yet. appeared, so that we. have no direct light, on events after 1600. The book, however, shows the developing shadows of coming events and we must be grateful for this until the remaining volumes appear.

In addition to Japan's forceful desire for the 'development of China, the most powerful .recent factors in Sino-Japanese contacts have been (a) the impatience of Chang Hsueh-liang

with the temporising of Chiang Kai-shek and (b) the escape of the Kiangsi Red. Army to. the fastnesses of Shensi, where they have built up an. anti-Japanese Soviet State. As a result Chiang Kai-shek- was kidnapped and only released after both Chang and the Reds were satisfied that drastic measures would be taken against Japan. These measures are being taken, with results which remain to be seen. Before any attempts are made at Western intervention, it is essential that the . motives and achievements of these rebel grotips should be known and the, characters of their leaders understood.

The next three books are, therefore, of supreme importance now and for the future ; the first, rather for what the General and his wife omit to say and for the light it throws on their mentality ; the second for its inside information on the kid- napping, for Mr. Bertram penetrated the gates of Sian a few days after the General was released ; the third for its details of the history, personnel and plans of the Red army as described by leaders of . the hitherto isolated and unexplored Soviet State, which Mr. Snow found himself able to visit last year.

. . The Chiang Kai-sheks tell a simple and virtuous story, prefaced by a pathetic chapter on China's -troubles 'such as is often given by sympathetic'social studenti, particularly

from America. They impress Upon us that : • " One has to be particularly meticulous about realities in China in order to pieverit prejudice distorting judgement:" • - . .

Surely the biggest realities today are the details given by Messrs. Bertram and Snow,. which ire' alinost completely

neglected by the General and his wife in their &sok, The

coup, says the General, happened because Chang 'and his colleague Yang were " deceived by propaganda of reactionaries " and judged his good intentions to be bad ones. After.Chang had-read his captives. diary (without its author's ?permission) his respect for him rose and he said he would like to release him; if only- his -fellow-conspirators could be assured that their heads would be safe. Chang was later able to assure them and the release came. They " knew the Generalissimo was magnanimous and they would have to depend upon his magnanimity." There was " no question of money or increased power or position" amino further mention is made of the original 'anti-Japanese demands of the kidnappers.

Chang's attitude .

" marks .a turning point in the life of the nation and is also an indica- tion of the high moral and cultural standard of the Chinese people."

A turning-point ! Yes 1 It was the beginning of the present undeclared war between soo million people, in which Chiang's _caution has counted for nothing.

If the General's account reads rather like a fable with a moral, Mr. Bertram's is a tale of adventure with a rucksack and a notebook. A third of the book tells us how he got to Sian " across a front of civil war " and across the Yellow River, with a rebel leader as travelling companion. In the city, his _enquiries showed him that " Chang Hsueh-liang had money enough " and the " ransom he wanted . . . was a new policy for China." This policy was supported by the Reds whom Chang had been sent to suppress. So what could be more appropriate than a visit to the Red army ? Mr. Bertram accomplishes this and finds the army bent on compromise with Nanking. What conclusions can be drawn ? We cannot say whether China had become more, or less Rrd, but certainly most of her political leaders had become pledged to anti- Japanese action. The reader is able to share in what Mr. Bertram calls his " grand time " ; grand in adventure and in its power to make us realise its portent.

Red Star Over China, apart from its amazingly detailed description of life in the Red . State in Shensi, its people, economy and constitution, is essential for all interested in the Far East for its biography, almost an autobiography, of Mao- Tse-tung, chairman of the " Chinese People's Soviet Republic," its " Who's. Who " of rebel leaders and its description of the 6,000 miles- " Long March " started by 9o,000 soldiers and thousands of men, women and children with munitions, factory machinery and anything. else they could carry. The survivors are now harassing the. Japanese advance in. Shansi. In all but the first of these four books, the Japanese are hardly ever referred to except as devils worthy of destruction. If only someone could write an impartial account of the Red Sun over China !

Adventures in the East is. not -adventurous but contains interesting first impressions and political gleanings of a wander-7 ing lady-journalist.. It teems with inaccuracies but occasionally has flashes of insight into the truth. The enormous output of such backs of Far-Eastern travellers' tales should not mislead us into thinking that we know a lot about China and Japan. They are rather the chronicles of " innocents abroad."

N. SKENE SMITH.