Evening star., 1943-01-22
Victory Still Distant,
But China Maps Her
Program for Peace
Reliance Placed on Full
Economic and Political
Cooperation by U. S.
BY A. T. STEELE,
Foreign Correspondent Of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.


midst CT war China is mapping her
program for peace. Though victory
is still distant, the Chinese do not
intend to be caught without plan
when the day arrives. Some of the
best Chinese minds have been set to
the task. The pattern which China
will propose at the peace table is far
from complete yet its main outlines
are already taking shape.
Three groups of men are working
here on China's postwar problems.
In my talks with their leaders, I
have been made aware of the one
main thread running through all
their hopes and expectations-reli-
ance on the fullest economic and
political cooperation from the
United States. 1t is felt here that
without such assistance on a gi-
gantic scale. China will have diff
culties in building herself up quickly
to the industrial and political stat
ure of a great power. Without such
help, it is admitted China's postwar
rehabilitation may be seriously re-
tarded.
Important among the planning
groups is the committee for the
Study of International Problems Of
which DR.. Wang Chung-hui, a jurist
of international recognition, is
chairman. Formed year and a
half ago, this committee is composed
of government officials and scholars
drafted for the task of studying
Chinas postwar problems. Domes-
tic planning is in the hands of the
central planning board. 1t is work
ing on a vast scheme for the post
war development of China. Gen.
eralissimo Chang Kai-shek is its
chairman. Dr. Wang Shih-chieh
serves as its active secretary. The
newest planning organ to enter the
field is a volunteer group led by
Gen. WI Te-chen, former Mayor
of Shanghai. which calls itself
committee for the study and formu-
lation of postwar program"
Demands Return of Manchukuo.
China has not been bashful in tell
ing the world her main peace goal.
She demands the return Of Man
chukuo, the return of Formosa and
the return of the Luchiu Islands, all
of which were taken from her in
successive acts of japanese aggres-
sion extending over half a century.
The unconditional retrocession of
Manchukuo and the liquidation of
Japan's special privileges in that
country are the keystone of China's
postwar policy.
The big japanese population in
Manchukuo and the 100000 jap
anese residents in China proper will
offer a problem. The Chinese ex-
pect that many of these unwelcomed
immigrants who are holding down
well-paying jobs in puppet govern
ments and in Japanese-controlled
industries will return voluntarily to
their homeland when their nveli-
hood is cut from under them. Thou
sands of japanese businessmen in
China will lose their main source of
income when the Japanese Army is
withdrawn.
China's claim for Formosa is based
partly on historical, partly on
chronological grounds. The bulk of
the Formosan population is of
Chinese stock. Moreover, the geo.
graphical position of that island,
just of the China coast, makes 1t
strategically vital to China's defense.
China held suzerainty over Indo-
China and Burma before the French
and British got there, but no
Chinese spokesman has yet voiced
official claim to either of those
southern countries The Chinese
are much concerned, however, over
the future status Of both those
colonies. AS for the French railway
from Yunnan to the Indo-China
port of Haiphong, they will probably
insist that China be guaranteed the
right to use the Indo-China section
in both peace and war. This 500
mile line will, for some years, re-
main Southwest China's principal
outlet to the sea.
Might Follow Philippine Plan.
Chinese views on the post war
status of the small countries and
islands OF Southeastern Asia are
still rather nebulous. Most Chinese
with whom I have talked admire the
American way in the Philippines
and would be happy to see the
British and Dutch adopt similar
policy with regard TO their South
Pacific possessions. The Chinese
have special interest in Malaga,
Thailand, Indo-China, Burma and
the Dutch Indies and the Portu-
guese colonies because of the large
Chinese minorities they contain.
The Chinese will ask q voice for
those minorities in proportion to
their size.
Nearly all Chinese would favor
Independence for Korea and the
maximum degree of self government
for India.
China doubtless will demand that
Japan be disarmed completely and
that effective measures be taken to
forestall any revival Of militarism
in that country. Repeatedly China
has indicated her readiness-nay
eagerness-to participate in any
federation of nations for the main
tenance Of world peace. She strongly
advocates an international police
force even though it may entail
some curtailment of sovereignty for
all countries concerned. There is
also much sentiment here in favor
Of regional combinations of nations
within the world framework. Chi
nese planners have in mind a Pa
cif1c association of nations including
all countries bordering on the Pa
ciflc, with the possible addition of
India. This association would con-
ciliate disputes. fix tariffs, distribute
materials and handle like problems
Of an essentially regional nature.
(Copyright, l943, Chicago Daily News, IncD