Honolulu Advertiser: Grave World Crisis Brews in North China Nov. 18, 1945

Honolulu Advertiser: Grave World Crisis Brews in North China
Sunday Morning, November 18, 1945. Page 1 and Page 10, Col. 8.

NEW YORK, Nov. 17 (UP) –Two developments tonight emphasize the international importance of the civil strife in China.

One is the decision of Lt. Gen. Albert C. Wedermeyer, commanding general of the U.S. forces there, to take armed action against a Communist-held village in northeastern China to prevent further attacks on American marines.

The other is the resentment, so far entirely unofficial, in Chungking against the Russian course in Manchuria.

Not Local Affair

Any tendency to regard the China trouble as a local affair which can be solved by the Chinese themselves without disturbing the world picture seems to be a grave mistake.

Russia and the United States already are directly involved. Both have troops in Chinese territory, although the Russians are now pulling out fast. The United States is openly supporting Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek by every means short of actual fighting. The Russians, by negative action, are aiding the Communists in the north.

Gen. Wedermeyer’s announcement implies that United States forces soon may be drawn into the shooting.

That would be unfortunate, since it is not easy to isolate such an “incident” in a country torn by war.

Attitude Held Correct

Wedermeyer’s attitude is, of course. Technically correct.

American forces in North China have the sole avowed purpose of aiding in the disarmament and disbandment of the Japanese. If they are attacked, in the process, they must defend themselves.

Unfortunately, the Communists regard the American policy as out and out intervention and are bitter about it.

The Russian policy of non-intervention, if it can be called that, is much more subtle. The Russians like the United States have recognized and committed their support to the Chungking government. Yet the Russians are not giving their support to Chiang.

The Russians are withdrawing their troops from Manchuria in literal compliance with treaty terms, but in doing so are permitting the Chinese Communists to take vast stores of Japanese arms, munitions and supplies.