Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 5, June 8th, 1949.

Past Failure

Past Failure

The Kuomintang government headed by the "Four Families" is quite incapable of giving the reforms which the great majority of the people want. There is overwhelming evidence that the government is too corrupt, oppressive and inefficient to handle the situation.

Since 1944 there has been a long list of major scandals, any one of which would have forced the resignation of the government in a democratic country. For example: The Gold Bar Scandal. The Postal Savings Bank Scandal. The Shanghai Rice Hoarding Scandal. The Shanghai U.S. Blood Plasma Deal. The Taking Over of Japanese Property Scandal, The Slaughter in Formosa Scandal, etc.

Dr. Endicott continued by giving extensive proofs of the corruption and cruelty of the Chiang Regime, quoting largely from reactionary American sources. But, as the rottenness of this regime is now universally recognised we do not consider it necessary to repeat the material.

The Chinese people, through hundreds of organisations, demanded, after the war a great reform based on a coalition government. The Nationalist Government, before it was armed by America, agreed to a coalition government as the basis of these negotiations. The Chinese Communist Party was reasonable and compromising, as General Marshall has admitted, until they became" aware that while General Marshall was negotiating with his left hand arming Chiang Kai-Shek with his right hand. It soon became evident that America intended to establish a corrunt military dictatorship by the help of American money, men and arms. An examination of the state of affairs in China south of the Yan-gtse river, where Chiang Kai-Shek's regime has been in undisputed control for years is adequate demonstration of the fact that to keep him in power can only make things worse.

The enormous strength of the revolutionary forces has been built up by giving the great majority of the people what they want. They get no help from Russia. Most people are sceptical of this, but it is a well-proven fact. General Marshall stated on his return that there was no evidence. He had observers and agents all over the north, both during the war and after.

Mr. R. E. Lauterbach of "Time Magazine" travelled with a "Truce Team" in the north. He writes:—

"I could find no evidence myself. I met O.S.S. men and G.2. operatives who were devoting all their energies to this problem from V.-J. Day on. They never collected a good enough case to float a first class rumour, which in China is the pinnacle of failure."

Mr. A. T. Steele of the "New York Herald-Tribune" after extensive investigation reported after a visit to Comunist controlled territory:—

"There is still no evidence of direct material aid by the Russians to the Communist forces."