New-York tribune., 1919-07-26
China Not Pacifst, Only
Unprepared
o the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: For July % you have your chief
editorial on "China's Lesson" in which you
draw lesson for pacihsts and critics of
nationalism in this country. I agree with
you that our country is a lesson, and greatest
Of all for she herself. But there is a notion
about China which is fundamentally inaccu-
rate, but which is popularity entertained in
America, with the rare exception Of those
who have thorough knowledge about China.
1t is my desire, therefore, that you call the
attention Of your readers to the following
observations.
You say that China is source Of anxiety
to other nations because she is pacifst and
because she lacks ability or desire to fight.
This is not correct. Our trouble is that
not sufficiently armed, prepared if
you please, and not that believe in the
efficacy Of paciism. A nation unready to
fight may, Of course, easily be mistaken to
be pacifst. But there is all the difference
in the world between nation not sufficiently
prepared to fight and one that simply does
not believe in fighting. When America de-
clared Germany she not well
prepared as farsighted statesmen wished her
to have been, but she was not to be called
pacifst for that. Now it can easily be ap-
preciated that the trouble with China Is not
so much that she lacks ability or desire to
defend herself as she lacks the ways and
means of defence. do not say this to excuse
the weakness Of our country, but to explain
it. Our first duty Is, Of course, to get ready
to protect ourselves, and you can be suro
that we are determined to do it.
But why Is it, you will ask, during tho
past decades Of foreign aggression, China
has not got ready to defend herself7 The
tragedy is that from 1862 to 1909 China
had almost continuously been ruled by an
empress dowager who was very little In
formed about other nations. She thought
no country could do much harm to her en-
pire. SO she paid little attention to de-
fence and development Of the country.
Needless to say that under an absolute
monarchy the people had no voice in shap-
ing national policies, except very indirectly.
Since the people took possession Of the
government, in 1912, by a successful revo-
luton, they have been working to set
up and maintain democratic government
for their own defence and welfare, as we'll
as for the purpose to help make this close
ly-knt world better place for all to live
in and thrive.
You refer to the civil war as yet not quite
settled in China. This, indeed, is unfortunate,
especially in these days Of imperialism.
But it is not always the fortune Of ship
Of state to have fair sailing. It was only
fifty years ago that Italy, Germany and
Japan became united nations for the first
time. France had century Of political
instability prior to 1870. Even for this
great country Of yours, twelve years had
passed before she "formed more perfect
union" And then she had to go through
the period of "division and reunion" The
upbuilding of q government is the most dif-
fcult task in vilzation-especially the
constructing of democracy out Of ab-
solute monarchy, with all It's unfortunate
inheritances. nation like China Is really
heroic and deserves all sympathy and help,
moral if not material. II. L. LIN.
New York, July %, 1919.