The Mind of the Chinese
SIR,—Mr. Thompson's argument appears to be that, because the Chinese have long memories, having once attempted an invasion of Japan seven hundred years ago they are bound to try again. It is true that the Mongol (Yuan) Emperor Khablai (not Tamerlane, who ruled a century later in Persia) sent two expeditions against Japan, which failed as Mr. Thompson describes ; but the Chinese themselves have never, before or since, had any ambitions in this direction. Contrasting this with the Japanese invasion of China, via Korea and Manchuria, and their occupa- tion of eastern China from 1937-45, my statement that " it was Japan that attacked China and not vice versa." seems to have some justification. I do not wish to enter into an argument with Mr. Thompson con- cerning the exact distance Ch'ien Lung's troops advanced in Central Asia. Suffice it to say that Manchu control extended as far as the Hi region, although their arms may for a time have dominated the area between there and Lake Tcngis, six hundred miles east of the Caspian. As Mr. Thompson says, the Chinese look back upon and cherish a long and glorious past—but, to quote a Chinese friend of mine, " glorious not for their domination over other people nor for their extensive Empire, but for their fine arts and culture." This, I feel sure, represents the true feeling of an overwhelming majority of Chinese.— [This correspondence is now closed.—ED., Spectator.)
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