Evening star., 1941-06-15
Lin Yutang Doubts Likelihood
OF Japanese War With y. S..
Chinese Incident Is Described as Reason Chang S
Forces Will Finish Job for America
if Given Tools, He Says
By DR.. Lin Yufane.

considerable friction between the Chinese
Communists and the Kuomintang but
am convinced there will be no civil war.
Undoubtedly, the japanese, under the
influence of their German advisers in
Toxic. are playing the game OF trying to
WOO the Communists away from the
Central (Chungking government.
But in China this tactic is only wish
full thinking If anybody thinks that the
Chinese Communists. who are among
the most hot-headed patriots of China,
will at any time sell out to Japan, he
does not know what he is talking about.
He certainly ooes not know the Chinese
Communists.
Another factor in the Chinese strength
is the splendid Chinese leadership. But
1 would say that the chief thing is the
spirit of the Chinese people-those who
have had to undergo horrible hardshlps
and sacrifices and yet keep on smiling.
I am inclined to think that psychological
factors are as important as mechanical
factors, even in warfare. Morale is all
important. The Chinese people are used
to hardShips of all sorts. They just go
on living and loving and cursing the
enemy when they see his bombers in the
Chinese sky, but on the whole they go on
living, almost ignoring the war, certain
ly ignoring the air raids.
Britain Faces Odds China Did.
But they are also working very hard to
build up new state in the provinces of
the interior. The price of the present
stalemate is eternal vigilance on the part
of the soldiers and continuous, ceaSelesS
effort in national reconstruction among
the civilians. In China we see the i'm
portance of moral qualities and the
reality of such words as faith" and
courage" They are invisible but they
are very real things If the Chinese had
been too objective and taken pencil and
paper to figure out the comparative
strength of Chinese and japanese tanks
and airplanes and battleships they would
not have dared to fight.
Today Britain faces the same odds that
China faced four years ago. Some
Americans say that Britain will lose.
They claim to be objective and are very
proud of it and will do nothing about it..
Obiectivity is the defense of every man
running away from battle. When the
American people make up their minds
that Britain shall win she will win. 1t is
not a question of whether America
can produce enough, but a question OF
whether the Americans have made the
decision that America shall produce
enough to turn the scales in favor of
Britain.
What American Aid Means.
I am frequently asked if America is
doing its best to help China. hope so!
The State Department likes to keep those
things a secret, but l feel that they do
not realize the position the Chinese
people are in. The Chinese today are
expecting more and more from America.
The announcement of sending. say, ten
American Flying Fortresses to Chung
king has tremendous effect on Chinese
morale in way that you cannot imagine.
But up to this minute America is still
sending two shipments of oil per week to
Japan and the Chinese are not COM
planning, at least not officially protesting
against it. Is it not rather pathetic, this
phase in American friendship?
America in the last four years has been
exporting oil to Japan and encouraging
speeches to China. That is of no earthly
use to us. Stop admiring China, but sell
us guns and bombers!
You know, the Americans have been
saying that the Orientals have an incom-
prehensible way of thinking, but there
are funny things that the West does
which are very incomprehensible to us
Years ago the white man used to send
gunboats to shoot Chinese. having pre-
viously sent missionaries to make sure
that their souls would go to heaven Wher
they were shot. That ought to make il
about even, according to the Occidental
way of thinking, but it does not make
sense to an Oriental. Save our bodies
but leave our souls alone.
With the help of American supplies
China will lick Japan singlehanded, anc
there will be no need for America to send
her fleet into Asia Give us the tools anc
China will finish the job in the Far East
for you.