REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 109 



It is quite probable that some believed that order could never be 

 restored in China until a strongly centralized government had been 

 established. 



We would ask however the question, does Mr. Putnam Weale 

 really believe that the chief cause of the lack of success of the 

 Republic in China is due to the withholding of recognition and support 

 by foreign powers ? Surely this is an amazing statement. It entirely 

 ignores all other causes. 



The author says nothing of the stupendous ignorance of the 

 Chinese masses and of how small a percentage of the people under- 

 stand what democracy means. He glides over the fact that the 

 leaders of China for the most part have not been men of character, 

 and that selfish motives have been at the back of this policy. He is 

 silent about the unscrupulous corruption of the officials of the Republic 

 and of the utter farce of elections. 



He makes no reference to the struggle between centralization and 

 provincialism. 



There are innumerable reasons which might be given to show what 

 a difficult problem confronts China in the attempt to establish a 

 Republic and it seems nothing less than puerile to attribute the 

 failure to the lack of sympathy of foreign powers. 



It may be that a republic will some day be established in China, 

 but it will be many years before political equilibrium will be obtained. 



Governments, in order to be stable must evolve, and this far we 

 see but little in China from which a Republic can evolve. 



The author gives us a severe arraignment of Japan's policy in 

 China. From the moral point of view Japan's attitude toward her neigh- 

 bour is entirely indefensible. The ethics of Japan are not Christian 

 ethics. We find in history that the foreign policy of nations is 

 generally actuated by motives of self-interest. We long for the 

 day when it will not be so, but we must face facts as they are. 



Without condoning with Japan's agressions, we can easily under- 

 stand them, China's weakness and disunion give Japan her opportunity. 



The civil strife now in progress makes it easier for Japan to 

 strengthen her hold. 



When the world war is over Japan may find it wise to alter her 

 policy, but at present the one thing needed to make her halt is 

 lacking : namely a strong united China. We wonder whether "the 

 dream of the Republic" is not in reality a hindrance to the strength 

 and unity of the people. F.L.H.P. 



