The Chinese in Burma Nothing could have been more unhelpful
than the debate initiated by the representative of Nationalist China in the political committee of the United Nations last Saturday on alleged violations of the Sino-Soviet treaty of August 14th, 1945. Nothing, indeed, could be more improper than that a repre- sentative of Nationalist China should be there at all to raise the question, for in relation to the United Nations a representative of what was once the Government of China is a mere irrele- vance. Unfortunately the Charter of the United Nations makes no provision for such a situation, and it is by no means clear how it is ultimately to be dealt with. But one question which came up in the course of the debate is of some importance. It was alleged by the Russians, on behalf of Peking, that Chinese Nationalist forces are being mobilised in Burma on the borders of Yunnan, and supplied by American airmen from Formosa, in preparation for an attack on the Chinese province of Yunnan. The facts appear to be that a small residue of Chinese who were fighting the Japanese in Burma have been there ever since the end of the war, and do occasionally, make incursions atross the Chinese frontier. .They are a complete nuisance to the Burmese, who, however, are not strong enough to expel them. If any American airmen are involved they are -purely private citizens and the planes private planes. There would seem to be a case here for the American Government, with all the influence it exerts over Chiang Kai-Shek, to put in some useful constructive work. If it would undertake to transport the Chinese regiments in Burma to Formosa it would be extinguishing a spark that might some day start a fire.
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