Evening star., 1940-12-08
New Outlook for
Chino
By Frederic J. HaSkin.

WIN seemingly SlIOHS ciichiJ, aIo
without any apparent protest from hard
pressed taxpayers, there is only one OF
two conclusions that may be drawn. One
is that it is better to risk more to save
investments already made, or there Is
great confidence in and high esteem for
the befriended nation.
This latter view seems to be shared by
most people in expressing their opinion
on the recent loan of sl00 100000 by the
United States Government to aid China
in her struggle with Japan.
The new sum advanced brings Chinas
obligations to the United States up to
s17O 600, 900. This is a large sum, even
in these times when nations deal IN bill
lions and obviously it brings up the
question of China's future. 1t Is belief
in this future that gives general approval
to the recent aid.
When China was forced in midsummer
of 1887 to defend herself against the in
vasions of Japan, the world began to
think of ChinaS future in terms OF her
past And this past outmoded in every
thing from ancient tools used in the
cultivation of land TO medieval govern
ment did not appear 10 have much
weight against moderniZed Japan. But
three and one-half years have passed
since the war started and China still
fights. and this seemingly unconquerable
spirit has attracted world attention. IN
deed it has brought praise from ever-in-
creasing millions who believe in her fu-
ture.
During these years, however, China
has been defeated on the battlefield:
she has lost much territory and even her
former capital But so far nothing has
happened to Chinese leadership and TO
the internal solidarity of Chinese re-
sistance On the other hand, all signs
point 10 a determination to fight to tho
end. This determination is concretely
expressed in the reorganization OF the
Chinese government. the removal OF the
capital rejection of the successive Japa-
neSe peace offers, the intensive training
of million or more recruits, and the
building of a 3,O00-mile -Turkestan
highway.
These things could not have happened
to China a few years ago, and they
afford a glimpse at the force that IS
Transforming the country, force that
for almost four years has kept China
fighting while her millions of friends
applaud her heroic struggle.
But 10 understand this new force in
China it is necessary TO go back to 1911
when the Manchu Empire collapsed.
Then young and modern Chinese
thought they could transform the old
empire overnight into a modern republic.
This did not prove to be the case, and
the republic fell by its own weight into
a number of divisions dominated by the
surviving generals who we're trained in
Manchu times.
What happened to Europe after ths
fall of the empire built up by Charlie
mango or that of Napoleon happened TO
China after the fall of the Manchu
Empire. The balance of power began
to change among the old war lords and
a struggle started between these and
the new or revolutionary forces. Only
the farsighted could see beyond the i'm
mediate present, but they had faith and
this has been justified by the formation
of the Nanking government which
has met with general approval of West
ern powers who at the Washington Con-
ference in 1922 pledged themselves to
give the fullest and most unembarrassed
opportunity to China to develop and
maintain for herself a stable and eff
cient government"
The changes that have taken place in
China are not the accomplishments Of
a single individual, although Chang
Kai-shek is an important personality
and a prime mover in the present re-
gime The force that has brought about
an awakened China, making it a ma
tionally conscious country, is invisible
ideas and the circumstances of inter-
national contact. The increasing num-
Der of improved roads, newspapers,
theaters, radios and other forms of edu-
cation and communication have brought
to China a new outlook This emerging
China. which for centuries had been
only civilization, is rapidly transform
ing itself into nation. In many in
stances the war has spurred the Chinese
people to greater effort rather than
bringing them encouragement.
This transformation is not only the
result of a new leadership in national
affairs. but a new generation of college
professors has replaced the old teachers
who emphasized tradition to the detri-
ment of progress A new generation OF
bankers trained in modern business
methods in the United States and other
countries has uprooted the old financiers
of the Peking regime, while every pos
sible innovation is being utilized to bring
China the best business methods of the
world.
But this new force of ideas did not
spring up because of the present war.
Indeed, it was the force that helped to
meet on a scientific basis Japan's inva-
sion. and obviously with some surprise to
Japan. Since 1881 China has not only
speeGed up this feeling of national
consciousness. but has put into operation
many schemes for national defense and
built railroads, even with night labor
holding torches, in anticipation of Japa-
nese blockade When the war came
China felt able to defend her future and
still insists that she can.
The conclusion which military leaders
reach is that the effect of this new ma