Evening star., 1942-10-04
Mr.. WiIIkie at Chunqkinq


Mr.. WilIkie at Chungking
Wendell WILKES arrival at Chung
king, the mountain capital of Free
China, inaugurates the second major
phase of his extensive foreign tour.
The long air journey from Moscow
by an undisclosed route over the
wilds of Central Asia was not with
out its perils from rowing Japanese
planes on the lookout for President
Roosevelt's special envoy, and the
warm welcome extended the distin-
guished visitor emphasized the relief
of both officials and people at his
safe arrival.
What Mr.. Willkie will discuss dur
ing the round of interviews with the
heads of the Chinese government,
which begins today, can only be sur
missed. His one significant state
ment in the round of mplimentary
small-talk at the airport was his
answer to newspaper reporters eager
to learn the prospects of a second
front in Asia: mo more second
front talk, either here or there"
This self-imposed silence may be
continued as far as the press and
public are concerned, but the topic
certainly will loom large in conversa-
tions with Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek and other Chinese leaders.
There is basic similarity between
Chinese and Russian needs for aid
from their Western Allies China,
like Russia, is cut off from effective
communication with the other
United Nations. Indeed, China's
isolation is the more acute since the
closing OF the Burma road. The
present air route from India to
Chungking over lofty mountains en-
ables only a trickle of supplies to
reach Free China, and the internin-
able caravan routes overland from
Russian Central ASIA though re-
Gently improved, are unsatisfactory.
They certainly cannot give China
the heavy equipment in the shape of
tanks and large-caliber artillery
which are a prerequisite to any big
Chinese offensive against the open
country dominated by the japanese
war machine. Free China continues
to put up a magnificent defensive
fight, and Japanese commitments
elsewhere have compelled with
drawals of troops and planes which
enabled the Chinese to regain val
liable territory in Central and South
ern China. That, however, is about
all that can be expected until a.
practicable land route is opened
from the outside world.
The most feasible method of re-
lieving China's necessities would be
an Allied reconquest of Burma and
reopening of the Burma road. That
can be done only by a big Anglo
American offensive based on India,
which would be equivalent to the
starting OF second front" in West
ern Europe. General Wavell, Brit
aims commander in chief in India,
recently pledged an eventual recon-
quest OF Burma, but there are no
immediate signs of such an OPERA
ton. An invasion OF Burma would
require an immense deployment of
combined military, naval and air
strength. There is plenty of trained
manpower available in the shape of
the large native Indian Army. The
main difficulty is lack of heavy equip
ment, naval and transport tonnage,
and probably air power. The situa-
ton is further complicated by wide
spread political unrest in India,
which requires large forces retained
in India to maintain order and guard
against f1fth-column activities. ia
pan certainly would resist desper-
ately any attempt to break its grip
over Burma. And, unless hostilities
break out between Japan and Russia
IN Siberia, which appears less and
less likely this year. no other effective
second front" possibilities by the
United Nations in the Far East seem
probable in the near future. Thus
the problem Of aid to China remains
to be solved.