THE CHOICE IN CHINA
Sm,—Although I cannot agree with Tony Gibson about the " moderating process " within the Comnlinist regime in China, I can agree with him about the liberal elemenis in le " non-political" groups. Unfortunately such groups are seldom able to make their influence felt in China. The vast mass of the people, who could exert some influence, are so busy wresting a living from the soil that all they want is to be left alone. As a result the ruthless are free to contend for power in China unchecked by any force except the rival claimants for power. Which of the two ruthless factions now fighting it out in China is the lesser of the two evils for China and the rest of the world ? Tony Gibson is convinced that the answer is the Communists. One might-agree with him but for the fact that Communism in China has become one of the major fronts in the world-wide campaign waged from Moscow against the free democracies.
Is it in the interest of the Chinese, not to mention the rest of the world, that Russia should become the supreme influence, if only for a time, in this vast area of the Orient ? If we cannot agree on the answer to this we simply cannot agree on the vital issue in China today. I should like to continue the debate with Tony Gibson on other points, such as the Communist cruelties against foreign missionaries—attested in an article from the special correspondent of The Times in China a few days ago— but I am afraid I cannot, for even if you„Sir, could spare the space, I am going abroad next week, and I shall be away for some time.—Yours
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