The China of Chiang K'ai-Shek: A Political StudyLinebarger, Paul Myron Anthony
History
The China of Chiang K'ai-Shek: A Political Study
Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony
Chiang, Kai-shek, 1887-1975; China -- Politics and government -- 1912-1949
Interpretation of the achievements of the Communist regime vary with the
political standpoint of the observer, just as they do in the case of the
Soviet Union. Sympathetic observers, both Western and Chinese, report
enormous improvements in agriculture, fair land taxes, new cooperatives,
brilliant experimental democracy, bold education, and great
enthusiasm.[14] No unsympathetic Western visitors have been reported
admitted, and a few neutrals came away enthusiastic; but critical
Chinese have found as much to question as one might find in a similar
Western situation: terrorism, puppet elections, murder both judicial and
plain, sham education, and immorality are charged.
[Footnote 14: See the works cited above, p. 20, n. 16. It is possible
to find a contradictory interpretation in Chinese sources for almost
every point cited by Western visitors as meritorious. Since the
Nationalists are not interested in promoting the international
reputation of the Frontier Area, and at the same time are unable to
launch any counter-propaganda (for fear of alienating Leftist
sentiment in the West, because it would give the Japanese a propaganda
advantage, and would disturb the appearance of the United Front), very
little criticism--sound or otherwise--of the Chinese Communist area
has appeared in the West. Even in a case such as the issuance of paper
money, universally regarded as a clever move by the Communists and
guerrillas, Chinese writers have charged that the issuance is fiat
currency imposed by Communist force (e.g., Wang Ssü-ch'êng,
_Ju-tz'ŭ Pien-ch'ü_ [So this is the Frontier Area!] Chungking,
1938, p. 38 _ff._) Within China, Communism is just as open to
interpretation as the Soviets are in the Western world. Western data
now available seems to cover only one side of the case, which is
doubtless well-founded; but there must be another. There always is.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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