CHINA TODAY 3
News Chronicle
27/1/47
By GERALD SAMSON
Communism via
CH
HINA'S Communists, sometimes described as not really Communists but as "agrarian reformers," proudly assured me that all members of the party are orthodox Marxists and that the party organisation follows the Russian model.
A plaster plaque of Marx, En- gels, Lenin and Stalin, in profile, hangs in most Government offices in the Communist cave- city capital Yenan, and in the University I found a well- thumbed collection of classic Soviet literature including an- nual reports of the Comintern translated into Chinese.
SOVIET AFFINITY
But it does not follow, as is frequently alleged, that China's Communists take their orders from Moscow. A close spiritual and ideological affinity between them, however, is only to be expected.
The economic China's Com- munists is at any rate their own. Commu- nist leader Mao Tse-tung frankly pro-
claims in his "New Demo-
"
cracy, which has become the party's bible. that although our programme is to push China forward to Socialism and Communism this cannot be achieved on the debris of a semi-colonial and semi-feu- dal China.
"Emphas i s must be placed
policy
SIANFUNAN!
of
Capitalism
among some of those who have lived their lives in quarters we would consider unfit for cattle.
"At last we have roots!" I was told by some of the lucky ones to whom life at last had a meaning.
The political indoctrination of the primary school children is a most unhappy aspect of the Communist system. I listened to boys and girls of five upwards reciting political slogans, which were also made the themes of songs and dances. My adverse comments drew replies which brought home the bitterness of feeling that has been engendered by two decades of civil war.
U.S.S.R
MANCHURIA
Mao Tse-tung met my political inquiries in similar vein. Presi- dent Chiang Kai-shek was denounced in the most bitter phrases,
noticed though I
during our dinner at Mili- tary H.Q. that his picture was hanging up on the wall in line with those of Stalin, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, foun- der of the Chinese Re- public, Presi- dent Truman and Premier Attlee.
STIENTSIN DAIREN KOREA
CHINA
CHEFOO
TSINGTAO
(SHANGHAI
Miles 500
Communist areas of China are shown in black
on the development of a vast private capitalist and co-operative economy and the development of the individual initiative of hundreds of mil- lions of people."
In other words, as he made clear during a three hour inter- view, an era of industrialisa- tion and capitalism is the first stage towards а Communist China," and these are the lines along which the Regional Ad- ministrations are working.
LAND OWNERSHIP
own
Great stress is still laid on agricultural reform and there is everything to be said for "the tiller owning his land," but the ruthless manner in which this has been largely achieved can commend itself to few.
I was much impressed, how- with the way the Com- ever, munists in the north-east (Man- churia) live redistributed pro- perty and land owned by Japanese and collaborators. In contrast to the Government policy of selling everything to the highest bidder, the Com- munists have divided it up
Mao @ x - the plained
Communist Party's boy- cott of the National As- sembly in these words: "Under condi- tions of no freedom of
of speech, under conditions war, it would be a mistake to take part in it. Had we done so neither the Chinese people or the rest of the world would have known what is white or black, nor who is right or wrong.'"
"
The Communists are convinced time is on their side. They believe that the National Army will over- extend itself and enable them to wipe it out piecemeal, and that their destruction of communica- tions, coal mines and factories will hasten an economic collapse which, will bring down the Government with it. Meanwhile, they display a complete disregard for the cruel sufferings such a policy inflicts on the people.
Although Russia was extolled wherever I went, there was a dis- inclination to discuss Sino-Russian relations. Few had heard of the secret clauses of the 1945 Yalta agreement and when I mentioned them writers and students looked at me incredulously.
Mao passed over the Red Army's removal of industrial equipment from the North-East with the captious observation that "the Russian Army have not taken it in order to kill the Chinese people but if General Chiang had it, he would use it for this purpose.
of
FASCIST REVIVAL?
The Russian occupation Dairen and Port Arthur. lightly condoned by Mao, was charac- terised by General Li Li-san (who recently returned to China after 17 years' exile in Russia) as, good thing for it will protect China against the resurgence of Japanese fascism which I ra
within five
years.
The Commu rang and file
them - are
American 28
10
Russian. America
is denounced from the ali Political Bureau down
a
-the
kindergarten. "The enemies of Chinese people," said Mao, the American imperialists their running-deg Chiang Kai- shek."
and
American
the British and Governments. Warm friendship for Britain was everywhere emphasised
As а
group the Communist leaders are high-minded, hard- working, well intentioned visionaries who show clear signs as well of being factually as materially starved.
•
in
They believe.
various degrees, that the end justifies the means. Like most Communists distort they never hesitate to events to bolster their own case and stubbornly dispel any evidence or argument which may conflict with declared policy.
IDEALISM
The zealous enthusiasm of their active followers. SO many of whom are not party members, is due to their belief that support of the Communists is the one way they can effectively help to put an end to corruption and inept local governments. The peasants for the most part appeared to be passive onlookers.
Of one thing I am positive. China's Communists cannot be lightly dismissed, for they are prepared to die for principles which they hold more sacred than life itself.
FINAL ARTICLE: Solving China's Problems
Then later. "American im- perialism is the enemy of Britain at well as remark typical of the studied attempt to drive a wedge between
China,"
a
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