China and Japan The conference now in progress between General
Chiang Kai-shek, representing the Nanking Government, and General Huangfu, in command in the Peking region, regarding relations with Japan is of considerable import- ance, particularly since the autonomous Canton Govern- ment in the south-east is warning Nanking against countenancing anything like a Chinese recognition of Manchukuo. The Nanking Government's position is not easy. When the Tangku armistice ended hostilities with Japan at the eastern end of the Great Wall, Japan was anxious to discuss the question of local communi- cations between China and Manchuria, but Nanking, regarding the armistice as .a purely military affair, refused any wider negotiations. To adopt a hostile attitude towards Japan is inexpedient- for finy Chinese Government on external grounds and to adopt i friendly attitude impracticable for internal reasons. Japan's movements in the Jehol region are still arousing sus- picion, but Nanking, having dealt successfully with the rebellion in Fukien and made some headway against Communists in the Yangtze Valley, feels rather more confidence in itself than it did.
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