The Wilmington morning star., 1945-08-24
Watch Over China
Nabers

Not even chronic optimists disprove that
this old world OF ours has always been
troublous place of habitation, not of itself but
because it's inhabitants have never learned
to live in peace. The hope now, after these
recent terrible years of bloodshed and destruc.
ton, is that his lesson has been learned and
wars will be over for centuries to come. That
is probably too much to expect, but the pr1n-
cipal nations are devoting their time and
thought to its achievement.
mented peace around the globe, the foundation
of which was built at the San Francisco Sc
curity Conference with the sEperstructure to
be raised when the chief powers gather at
peace table firmly resolved that this time
there will be no blunders as disastrous as
followed the former war which some foolish
men declared war to end wars. Yet, as
hopeful as present signs are, the seeds OF
future conflict are being scattered on all toe
fertile soil.
These seeds are falling, not in Europe, where
the chief offender is crushed, nor In Japan,
for all that nations failure to understand the
full meaning of defeat. Neither of these breed
ing places of war is liable to create new
conflicts for many years, II at all. II another
war is to come, it seems more likely to origin
ate on the mainland of Asia, and not with the
Russians, but the Chinese, as instigators.
The controversy over Hong Kong, for ex-
ample, can be viewed only with alarm. The
Chungking government boldly announces the
port will be occupied by Chinese forces and
at the same time the new British Foreign
Minister. Ernest Bevin, declares the Britons
are to receive the Japanese surrender IN Hong
Kong, and that the port, a British outpost
before the war, will be returned to his govern
ment Sin agreement with our Chlnese ana
American Allies
The difference in these viewpoints is too sig
,;f;cant to he overlooked. Perhaps Britain. i'm
noverished by war and under new liberal
regime, will not care or dare to make an Issue
Of Hong Kong But even it the London govern
ment Yields to the Chinese on this polnt' the
possibility of grave later trouble will not be
wholly removed On the contrary, 1t is naole
n he increased through the encouragement
pritain's failure to stand Up for one OF the
Empires cardinal NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
its far-flung boundaries-will supply. II emma
is successful in forcing Britain to bow to Its
will on one point it will be the more inclined
to make additional demands, not only upon
Great Britain bit other powers as well.
The fact is China is feeling its oats. To
4oI with
the Japanese, not by its own effort but through
the aid of its Allies, has given certain power
full Chinese elements a sense Of omnipotence,
which is the stronger because OF the boarded
arms, gasoline and materiel diverted from the
combat to well concealed caches
It has been specifically declared that Chi
nese have been stealing great quantities OF
war tools, including guns and ammunition, and
particularly gasoline, ever since these things
were first flown over the hump, and we have
not seen any authoritative denial Of the claim
The Chang government has not been in
volved in any such reports, but China is over
run with bandit gangs-guerrillas on their own
account-capble of doing many things with fl.
ture aggression against Chang or any organ.
lied government in China and any nation that
lifts hand to put down their deprefatons
as their chief objective Furthermore, the com.
munists of north China are well armed and
determined, ready at the drop of hat to
10 to war, real war not merely skirmishes,
with the armed forces Of the Generalissimo.
It was in circumstances strangely similar
to these that the Mongol hordes OF Genghis
Khan set forth Upon their conquests and came
Yerilously near to conquering the world.
The brave new world ahead will have oc
easion enough to keep watch over China, lest
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