The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-05-04
LOOKING
AHE4D
" GEORGE S. BENSON
\ Presidenf--Harding college
Searrg. Arkansas
China

Quashing Hirohito's dream of
great empire will not finish the
United States job in the Orient.
Chinese, 45O million of them, already
are holding out implorins hands to-
ward America. Most of them don't
know what they need but this fact
only tightens our obligation because
we do know what's good for them.
They need slow, regular feelings of
the diet on which America grew
strong.
On a diet of Christianity, encour-'
agement for initiative, free enter
prise and protection for invest
ments, America grew in 150 years
from IS rustic colonies to be the
worlds most powerful nation. China
has had none of it. Since the year
One China has had everything but
chance, so it had nothing Fertile
soil, timber, iron, coal, oil and man.
power, China has had. But China
stayed poor.
China Wants Chance
Far-sighted leaders in China are
frankly bidding for capital invest
ments from other countries when
the war is over. 1t is Americas
invitation; no other big country will
have capital at the end of the war.
Will China be good place for
Americans to invest money in the
postwar years? Will it be a good
frontier for adventurous young
Americans to enter as industrial pi-
oneers?
Both these questions have the
same answer. China offers oppor-
tunity only if investments will be
safe there after the war. Less than
ten years ago when lived there no.
body, except in few favored spots,
dared own a paying business. If
local warlords didn't confscate such
enterprises, bandits would plumber
them. Chang Kai-shek will remedy
this, 1 trust, if he can enjoy united
cooperation from his present allies.
Business Not Safe
In order to make profitable bust
ness safe in China, it will be neces-
sary to have strong, representa-
tive government. Government
must be able to crush the rule of
countless local warlords at home
and command the respect and
recognition of other first-rate world
powers. Investment of capital there
depends upon the creation of a set
of conditions that do not now exist.
Developments that might take
place in China in Is years of private
enterprise are staggering to think
about. China's population is three
times ours. China has one billion
dollars invested in industry, we have
100 billion. Americas capital invest
ment is $500 per person; China's is
$3.50. Chinese still farm with hoes
while their soldiers fight with Ameri-
can-made guns.
Selfishness Kills
Some short-sighted person is al
most certain to ask: "Why should
we help industrialize China, teach
them how to build wealth and beat
us at our own gamer" The idea is
silly. We will prosper with China.
Prosperous customers always help.
For instance, there are 100 million
people in the lands south of Ell
Paso; less than tenth as many
live in industrialized Canada. But
Canada buys approximately as
much from us.
China needs $4,000 locomotives,
20 million tractors and other items
in proportion. China also has valu-
able things to trade for Americas
goods. 1t would take 100 billion dol
lars or more to make her COMPETE
tive with the United States in
dustrially, but nine billion would
bring her up to about our horse
and-buggy days. After that she could
finance herself. If we can help
Chang Kai-shek to stabilize China
politically there is little doubt the
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