Evening star., 1939-12-24

eight years ago. In 1884 the then Maj.
Gen. Kenji Doihara, Japan's ablest plot
ter, set up Japanese-married puppet,
Yin, in the area north of Peiping. In
1886, the ailing Prince Teh was put at
the head of pro-Nipponese regime in
Inner Mongolia.
With this sound experience, the jap
anese went into the puppet-making busi-
ness on large scale Immediately after
the outbreak of the present war. A pro-
visional government mainly
of members of the now defunct Anfu
clique, notorious for its close links with
Japan two decades ago-was established
in Peiping Early last year reformed
government" was organized in Nanking
to replace peace maintenance COM
mission headed by an unlovable rogue
known as Sammy, the auctioneer."
The Japanese were convinced that the
war-weary populace would with time
recognize the authority of the various
puppet regimes. The latter depending
as they are on Japan or their protec-
ton, would in turn be anxious to serve
Tokio's ends, whether in adapting
Chinese economic structure to Japanese
needs or in squeezing foreign interests
out of the country.
Respected Leaders Decline.
The Japanese efforts, however, i'm
mediately hit snag. The newly born
nationalism, combined with the age-old
concept of face" defeated all Japanese
attempts to recruit the services of politi-
cal leaders enjoying popular respect.
There were many who hated Gen.
Chang Kai-shek, China's strong man"
There was none who wanted to carry
his hatred to the point of working with
Japan.
Perhaps the most notable illustration
was supplied by Marshal WI Peifu, who
died in Peiping a few weeks ago, al
legedly OF an infected tooth. Wu-an
old and brilliant warlord-has been at
odds with the government for many years.
With his large retinue. he lived in rela-
tive poverty in Peiping, reading cIas-
sizes. composing poetry and practicing
calligraphy.
To the japanese military, WI looked
like an ideal puppet. He was tremen.
dously popular with the people, he was
impecunious and he did not see eye to
eye with the group in power. For the
past l8 months, the Japanese have been
wooing WI with all the charm at their
command, in an effort to persuade him
to accept leadership in central" pup
pet regime.
Steadfastly WI had rejected all the
tempting offers. In a land where old
age is venerated WI did not want to
bring shame upon his old head by deal
ing with alien invaders. He saved his
face" with the people, but he went to his
ancestors.
With WI adamant, the Japanese next
turned to another prominent political
dgure-Wang Ching-wei. An ex-revolu-
tionary, whose fiery pamphleteering set
young China aflane in 1924-1927, Wang
has since turned many a political coat.
In the past IL months, since his sensa-
tional flight from Chung king. his domi-
nant passion has been once again to
head central government, even If it
depended for its existence upon Japanese
mercies.
War in China will scarcely end soon.
The Chinese will not give in until they
are exhausted to the point Of collapse.
Japan will not retreat, because she still
hopes to make China bear the cost Of
war-and because retreat would spell
the end OF the Japanese empire. Through
her puppet regimes, Japan will prob
ably achieve measure Of success, both
In lessening her financial burden and
in driving foreign interests out Of China.
But the end Of war Is not In sight.