Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
This Changing World
Chino Might Come to Terms With Jops
II Aid From Allies DwindIes Too Low

Chungking. The amounts in
volved were relatively inconse-
quential and while they may have
served as morale boosters for the
various generals under Gen.
Chang, fundamentally they could
not have made much difference
in the fight against japan.
But what is worrying the gen.
eralissimo and his advisors more
than anything else is the fact
that the pillars of the United
Nations have made their final
decision to dispose of Hitler first
regardless of time and cost. The
realistic Chinese, who are re-
puted to have the best intelli-
gence service in the world, doubt
that Germany will crack up.
They see that the African cam
paign is in it's infancy and believe
that much water will run down
the Yellow River before the AL
lies can make their way across
the Mediterranean into Europe to
crush Hitler.
Doubt Russian Success.
The Chinese seem to take little
stock in the Russian drive against
the Nazis. They appear to think
that this offensive is much along
the lines of the winter offensive
of last year. But they do not
seem to share the viewpoint Of
many Americans and Britishers
that the Russians are going to
crush Hitler by themselves.
But the psychological trend
among the people of America
and Britain seems definitely
toward an about effort in Eu-
rope. The Chungking officials
are said to interpret this as
meaning that the Allies will be
compelled to put off indefinitely
an offensive against the Japs.
The shipping situation continues
to be such that it will be difficult
for the United States to detach a
sufficient tonnage of merchant
men to the Pacific to change from
defensive offensive strategy to a
real offensive.
We may have some more spec
tacular local victories and, as
far as we are concerned, may
remove definitely the threat to
our own shores. But SO long as
the accent is on defeating the
European branch of the Axis, it
is highly doubtful if we will
have the necessary tonnage to
undertake major aggressive oper-
ations in the Pacific.
According to the Chinese way
Of thinking, the operations in
Europe will be so costly in man.
power and war materials that
when we finish off Hitler any sug-
gestion for a compromise peace
from Japan might be listened to
by the Allies. The Chinese realize
that large section of the Amer
lean public and the Government
itself wants to accept only one
peace proposal from Japan
complete surrender.
But the politically wise Chinese
q fear that the other members OF
the United Nations may look at
the situation from a different
angle and accept a suggestion for
a compromise, particularly if that
compromise were based on a stat
US quo in China. The public in
countries other than the United
States is not as aware of the
potential danger Of the Japanese
as it is of the Germans. And
this is natural and logical as far
as Europe is concerned. The Chi
nese, however, have only remote
interest in Europe. They look at
the enemy who has occupied
their own country as the greatest
menace So it is that observers
are gravely concerned over the
open anger expressed by the
Chungking government and
would like to remove as quickly
as possible the potential danger
OF China's giving up the war.