Evening star., 1945-11-18
Far East Unrest Grows,
Posing Serious Threats
Loss of Face by Western Powers as Result of
Early Jap Victories Brings Increasing
Demands for Self.Rule
BY Constantine Rra,cn.

regime against the liberal communist
regime at Yenan. The American Gov
ernment is being taken to task by a sec.
tion Of public opinion because 1t 10
interfering in civil war and is risking
the lives of many American soldiers to
back bankrupt regime.
A survey Of our relationship with the
Chinese and of the real situation in
China proves that the accusation ID
unfounded. This Government has
backed the central Chinese government
of Chang Kai-shek since the Japanese
invaded the country eight years ago.
The American Governments adamant
attitude brought about the japanese
attack at Pearl Harbor. 1t has now been
historically established that the Nazi
and Fascist governments in Berlin and
Rome were kept in the dark until the
eleventh hour about Tokyo's plans to
wage war.
In keeping with that policy we sup
ported, sometimes half-heartedly, the
central government prior to December
7, 194l. After the Pearl Harbor attack
we endeavored to give the Chinese
greater assistance, but the Japanese
victories in Malaga and Burma cut of
the Chinese governments lines of COM
munication with the outside world.
After the situation improved, we dis
patched to China force of about 10000
men and q sizable number of planes
and a quantity of war material. But
the supplies available in the area under
the control of Chungking are still
limited.
Relations Long Bad.
The relationship between the self
styled communist government" in
Yenan and the Kuomintang government
at Chungking has been bad throughout
the war. Although the Communists
claimed to have fought the japanese
bitterly there are no indications, ac-
cording to American officers on the
scene, that they have done more than
carry out few sporadic raids.
Last year, for instance, when the Japa-
nese dispatched couple Of divisions
by rail from the Kwantung army in
Manchuria to attack Running and
Chungking, the Communists made no
attempt to attack the railway lines over
which the Japanese forces and supplies
were being transported. Now they have
cut that line in several places to pre-
vent the transfer of central government
troops to Manchuria.
Ever since our entrance into the war,
the American diplomatic and military
representatives at Chiangs headquarters
have made the most earnest efforts to
bring the rival factions together. Ae-
cording to Ambassador Patrick j. Hur-
ley, who personally took hand in these
negotiations, and to It. Gen. Albert G.
Wedemeyer, who assumed the RESPONSE
bility for providing the Communist
troops with essential medical supplies
whichthey needed desperately, the Com
munist leaders were not willing to come
to any real agreement except on their
own terms.
The Communists wanted Chang to
surrender his political power to Gen.
Mao and retain only his military COM
mand. This request was not put so
bluntly, but resulted from the various
negotiations in which, after having OBJ
tanned some concessions, the Communist
leader demanded many more.
Russo Chinese Pact Signed.
There is no question that the Yenan
leaders believed themselves supported by
the Communist general headquarters in
Moscow to which they, like all other
Communist organizations throughout
the world owe allegiance.
At Potsdam, President Truman was
able to convince Premier Stain that it
is essential for the sake of United Ma
tions harmony to support Chang. Ac-
cording to witnesses at the conference,
it did not take much time to obtain
Stains consent to such gesture. The
Russian Premier is reliably reported to
have stated through his interpreter: ST
have no use for the alleged Chinese
Communists. They are not Com
munists at all, but mere brigands."
The sequel to President Truman's in
tervention at Potsdam was the Sino.
(See FAR EAST, Page C-l01