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9/1/1952
- New Force I The Idea
by A. Doak Barnett
HOT FOR PUDUCAT OH INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS ADB New Force I The Idea Peak Road Small House Hong K September Mr Waler S Rogers Institute Current World Affs Fifth Avenue New York N Y Dear Rogers Last small Kowloon I R earnest group young Chinese political exiles their wenties early thirties diseussin their hopes future their country Every rienced Communist decision their mission fight Every rienced Kuomintang decided their opinion future They dedicated themselves creation force Chinese politicai During hundred years spokesman group Chinese people imporan pelii One China should nation independent unified The Chinese governmen shoul democratic This sream Chinese history Independ democracy The Kuominan unable achieve overhrown Gommuniss The CommunisCs Cheir policy called democraCic dicCaCorship iready denied China force which continue srugEle independence democracy sream modern hinese history demands The expressed Che young women shared considerable number Chinese political refugees inCeilectuals during three years there efforts individuals small groups roundwork organiz force Hong Kon principal refuge those mainlanders Comnist Taiwan center activities these people Hong Kong unique asylum victims China internal power politics population flows human which follows upheavals mainland The British tradition impartiality celony sible refugees every political color safety The presen population Hong Kong estimated between million close highest figure reached during colony hundred history Between Chinese Communists armies vanced southward stream refugees poured colony subsequently Even after trickle continued restrictions sides border reduced small volume The refugees Hong Kong escape politics Millionaires paupers industrialists factory workers officials soldiers shopkeepers barbers dance girls prostitutes For various reasons peopl sorts chose escape revolution gulfing their homeland Although majority these White Chinese political intellectuals students professional vernment military leaders political reasons This minority escape mainstream Chinese revolution hopes direct channels directions The tradition Yat which continues spire Chinese political exiles In period before revolution Sun attended Queen College Hong Kong spent years travelling through Asia Europe ganizin support among Overseas hinese The runners Kuomintar organized abrOad Hsing Chung Hui Macao T Meng Hui Tokyo Although changed century since Sum Yat built organization there still people believe could These people faith exercise significant fluence homaland through polltloal activi overseas Hong Kong major overseas political activities Chinese exiles The exiles before current small Kuo mintang groups based Hong Kong Institute newsletter Hong Kong December subsequently Joined Communists nominal coalition Peking These cratic groups organizations called included Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee Democratic League Reports mainland indicate powerless frustrated their leaders still impressive titles positions Li Ghi Kuomintang Revolution Committee Vice hairman Central People Govern The political which carriedthese ealled democratic groups mainland I48 I49 brought return large number refugees Joined Kuomin Taiwan smaller number beach Hong Kong proponents called force Although force leaders think themselves being tradition Yat respects tradition democratic gr2ups which Joined Communists Peking Like latter force supporters dissidents disillusioned party disenchanted broken promises false slog8ns There important difference course The demoeatio goups broke powerul Chinese party Kuomintan Joined other Communists At present force leaders Hor Ken8 Gommunist keepln thelP tanoe Kuomlntan although It posslble Some evenually Join Kuomintar There present another difference The force oganised fewer ecemitted supporters weaker demPabio gPoups which succeeded inHoKo Ifthetem force isusedinaliteal political sense abolie ideolocal sense there actually It rather allty At there several hundred people InHo Ko attered 0vePseas Chise onltiesonasso ciate theelves actually worki development political movent which would deserve title In terms orgizatlon there between forty Hon Kong tltles othes without which together carry activities various sorts numerous between these Poups theFesbeen coalescence stall supporters unified organized movement Many observers regard TOUpS merely Jetsam tossed turbulent polities modern China History prove correct Interpre tation sinlficanoe There which forgotten great struggles tween evolutlony parties millt politicians whichve dominated scene InChi several decades The force today letel shadowed terms Peal power Influee Counists ontheinldbutalsobtheNatiolists onTal althoU defeated mainland still possess Pioh island large party ovePent milltay force amillionmen andthe support ofmopepolltioalexilesdeP seasChinesetn newforce leaderscano But force supporters faith theyethe torchbearers Important ideas values which mental In Chinese Pevo utlon believe their polltioal protest tually develop point where gather support exert political iluence Democracy almost univesal watohword modern Chins democratic process never developed llbeal intelletuals striven aPllamentaPianlsm multl system electionS civil Pule Ma politicians milltaPy leaders dended autonomy independent In lucre odiry Chinese Peslsted inoPeasl coacn suthoitsPlan government power But pPsctlcal poliiossbeen toward monolithic militarized totalitarian revolutionary sspsPtles wchvedomited tlonsllisa Insteadodemocracy Chisdo paPtyPule lique politics struggles between milltaPists The resul frustatlon dlssaIsfaion numbers people Supporters force frustrated persons Some liberal crats ontinue democratic insibutlons tosses In Ohio Others persons share power denied pivilege those In power Taiwan PePso ategories convinced achieve their oganii political movement independenb stPengh All force groups Communist strongest single linking together All either unwilling unable Join forces Kuo mintan Taiwan present On point however there considerable differences Some oppose Chiang K Kuomintang Ideological political reasons claim although Taiwan Government preferable Peking still stony totalitarian democratic features Others standing personal feuds Chiang personal grievances against Kuomintang A would probably Taiwan could excluded because their records political deviation opposition There differ ences their attitudes toward future relations Nationalist Government Taiwan Some believe should build force which influence Taiwan direction further reform Others think independent Communist political movement organized accepted Nationalists ultimately political alliance against Communists formed Still others believe Nationalists hopeless these eeple develop entirely revolutionary movement The present attitude Nationalists toward these groups suspicious hostile At conciliatory steps taken without success Lei efltor Tzu Yu Chung Kuo Free China liberal magazine Taiwan H K topersuade certain force leaders Taiwan neither others convince would really ranted freedom aetion speech Nationalist territory New force leaders reasoned because really Independen political groups existed Taiwan bhere cause believe tolerated In Nabionaliss concillabion pursued instead attempting araet force groups Kuominbang concentrated efforbs disrupting filtra ataeking Early I inberviewing leader Kowloon couple hoodlums burned plasblc doorbell Don bother Jus members Chiang Ghing Ani Communis Youth Salvabion League By contrasb Nabionalisbs Communists Hong Kong relatively lible attention force Apparenbly Oommunisbs believe force supporbers eomparabively libtle Imporbance while Nabionalisbs compebiors inernabional suppor versus Communists The general public Hong Kong still apathetic force grcups knows liftle about One reason British authorities frown political activity sequence overt aetivit which groups indulge field publications propaganda rather political organization agitation Another reason inability groups unified organization If agree among themselves outsiders possibly importance For period Hong Kong Chinese press attention their activities It generally referred Third ForCe groups The Third Force groups discredited groups Ject Recently however public interest declined press rarely mentions The majority people Hong Kong political probably large percentage Overseas Chinese whose interests primarily commercial To extent there something which called general public opinion political matters however great swings pendulum between Communists Nationalists In people Hong Kong tended Communist reaction Kuomintang defeat feeling Communists future reprisals against those opposed Communists In however largely result first reports persecutions mainland public opinion hifted against Communists Last October IO nationhl celebrated respectively Communists Nationalists Hong Kong produced peculiar spectacle displays October I Communist wasdisplayed marily banks other large capitalist organizations under Communist control while October Nationalist peared small shops workers establishments The newforce groupsdidnotgainverymuchinthis shift opinion however Unorganized known little support public large Even refugee Chinese Intellectuals attracted force groups although generally sympathetic potential recruits A large number share pessimism defeatism former colonel Nanking Government inistry National Defense I talked I decent govern China during lifetime lifetime children The Communists terrible The Nationalists useless The force futile In setting atmosphere significant aspect force groups people faith themselves future working their Their activities Hong Kong three sorts On One carrying endless discussion meetings exchanging ideas alking about China problems doing research planning future Tey probably doing searchlng thinkln about Chlna problem anywhere sible reaive ideas plans Will emerge Inelleual ermenaion Secondly doing great writing about developments China which filtering Overseas Chinese eommunitles Southeast Asia other parts world A eonslderable amount writing mediocre suffers commonly accepted positive program It Is probably slgnieant Counist literature nbeing produced Chinese language Some competent Chinese observers In Hong Kong belleve Counlst writi force grous Is effective written In Talwan Is likely iluenee Over Ghlnese because Is confined slogans aments iglnatlve tends objec New force groups publlshi number gazlnes inHoKong GhuKuoGhihShe Chi sVoice LiLun T IndependetFoh Ts Bhe EenaiSsanc TZUYUCn eedom E enShe e6ple Le They nenewspape J chung Sheng Wan Pao Which IsnoveryeffeIvehowever eyaeIopulisBi tanslatlng onsldeble numbe books ganizatlons In field Tzu Yu Feedom Publlshi Go Yu Lien Union Pess Ing Fn Plaitdde Press The signficaeesepublieati0ns competing enist propaganda going Over Chinese partially filli which existed field Coust Chinese literature Their iluence difficult estite undoubtedly contributed general antieunist trend Overseas Chi opinion Thirdly these goups trying oundwork future organization The political atmosphere Hong Kong cludes efforts toward creating strong organization attracti active pubic support slowly weldedbetweenoups InHo Kongand elsewhereamoerseas Chinese I youth group Hong Kong example formulated published platform whichsa group small organization which maintains close liaison other groups inHoKo whichscontinuous tacts Chinese youth groups other world Taiwan Macao alaya Japan U S Canada These seeds which develop organizations later As Chinese friend politicalmovement seeds havebeenplanted Noflowersbloomed becauseHoKongis But flower bloom Hong Ko although present center force activities place seeds planted groups actively publishi propagandizi organizing In To Bakok other places There different sorts people thirty forty groups among several hundred active supporters force Hong Kong respect assified types On there people names These generally distinguished notorious ublic careers Setlve leaders Chinese revolution since their youth Al previously belonged either KuomSntang Communists include Intellectual leaders ticians military commanders In group persons former president National Central Unlveslty founders Democratic Socialist Party Youth Party minor groups whleh power tolerated Nationalists mainland still small sllnter organizations Taiwan president Legislative Yuan founder former Politburo member Chinese Communist Party Sun Yat military commander ehlef leading military leaders Kwantung Kwangsl provinces Inlsters Nationalists these small coterie cliques personal followers The other category composed younger women mainly young intellectuals students China after Communist takeover unknown anonymous general public concerned A large percentage writing publishing other activities force being carried these peoples There significant difference between these categories peoples which important factor The older harass actually tient youths They anxious younger people create immediately Some organization which symbolic importance merely loose allian0e major groups cliques associated respected names The younger people appear willing longer range point think terms progres slowly propaganda organization political years hence The tradition secret societies under cover political China practical difficulties oarryin activities opposition authorities Communists Kuomintang influence force groups It apparent younger people although subscribing liberal democratic ideas strongly influenced Communists revolutionary tactics The older names energetic young people operating things The future belongs youth Capable providing leadership force leaders recently They recruited trained considerable period By contrast young early thirties about older A really force cannot created oldergeneration Many influenced Past solutions Will We fresl approach China problems Of course however It interesting young concede future belongs youth To I mentioned political platform force groups Actually difficult concrete terms because generally acceptable platform articulated However irividual groups published stateents beliefs example The Path Renascent China group called Democratic Chinese Youth League Our Fundamental Beliefs published Freedom Pub lishing C0 The Road Democratic China published Platitude Press there appears general concensus certain basic ideas though there specific common program Perhaps fundamental force groups political system climate China which provides freedom expresslen right assert dissent opportunity political minority roups organize parties They believe democracy based multi party limitations government civil control military respect basic individual rights They opposed party totalitarian The first direction their believe actual organization parties groups which support these principles their influence The thoughtful among realize China cannot merely democratic institutions West perhaps government people precede government people people convinced reasons which considerable validity balance power inernal required progress toward democracy It interesting possible after Communist China though Communists totalitarian antithesis They reson Communists arousing tical consciousness masses making literate Even though being purposes manipulation control could future under different regime Chinese masses might insist active greater influence itieal They believe process overthrowing Communists whether comes result international internal revolution believe operate sumption groups power influence various sorts emerge possible believe internal balance power China limiting potentialities totalitarian control One differing views realistic these hopes nonetheless hopes which sustain faith force followers A number force leaders thinking terms increased regional autonomy China counterbalance central mment power In terms social economi program these people majority politically conscious modern Chinese accept reform other reform ideas current among Chi political groups They object complete state control envisaged Communists however could probably classed Fabian Socialists They object methods Communists believe although Government should responsible welfare economic security working classes there should e0erolon dealing masseS One I talked summed asserting Communist constant struggle antipathetical Chinese character quoted hinese proverb which means roughly people peaceful choose theprofession Another major which fundamental their opposi Communists complete independence China The Chinese Communists Soviet policy disgusts angers How achieve these different matter In problem repeatedly confronted liberal Chinese those advantageous position present force supporters seemingly insoluble dilemmas Two things required people exert significant political fluence modern China strong political organization power The process acquiring these prerequisites political iluence tendwd destroy liberal which usually Justified The force groups however almost basis resent forexertiz political influence consequently faced problem acquiring They organization first Hong Kong regarded organization restrletive attitude local authorities Mamy force leaders particularly maces trying therefore elsewhere place where Into amatic declaratio appeal support actively organize They encounteredmy obstacles however passs visas felers PhilippineS Indonesia other without success This leadersve maged Too seems destined centers public force activity It reliably reported porant ailianoe among force leaders which Ku Ne Cha Fa Carson Cha Kuo their followers associated Too before issue publlc declaration there I describe specific leadersandpisinmyxtewsletter However force leaders undoubtedly inHoKo concentrate propaganda aotlvities Some themstatett great dealmere propagandast precede serious organization1 activity Whether Is ratiolizatlon Is realistic sittion They Will tlnue however small groups establish contacts spathetle persons scattered Overseas Ghinese nities Once organization undertaken active itious soaie force leaders assert there numerous sources recruits They believe people lowing sorts would support democratic Communist Kuomintang organization sound principles platform known respected leaders refugee intellectuals Communist still disillu sioned Kuomlntang Overseas Chinese youth ommnist revere tradition Sun Yat blame Chiang K Kuomintang failure mainland liberals Taiwan would approve political counter balance exert pressure Kuomintang There ferent approaches force groups toward problem organization however Some group which hopes Japan thinking primarily terms loose league which bring together future different groups individuals Some younger force supporters other appesr striving build strong organized political party period years All force leaders believe people mainland disillusioned Communist perhaps potential support force undetermined future revolution provided opportunity declare their position These people include believe disillusioned fellow travellers those ocratic roups Joined Communists intellectuals actually Joined Communist Party important lower ranks A Hong Kong formerly associated Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee I small parties Peking position I their thinking difference Peking I But present They could never switch Kuomintang If there force which could ouSside China however would source Another force leader Hong Kong The support force mainland I still contact people including friends Joined Communist Party I convinced would support force could There large element wishful thinking statements there important eleme truth Udoubtedly there disillusioned persons because unable toward Kuomintang alternative Communists political change It difficult under condi tions could associate themselves force however certainly foreseeable future organizational activities force confined primarily Chinese subject rigid police controls Communist mainland The requirements effective force organization admitted supporters include program poplar apeal leadership where oportunity organize sources adquate fincial which really exist The obstaeles oPganiza erseas Chinese furthermore gPeateP Yat Sun faced isinbegrati Manehu Pegime couldravelalmost atwilltoestablishcontactsaworkfo obtained generou financial assistaneem Chinese situation differen New force supporters stroest regime chinese history mainland formidable Opposition overseas Counists Kuominta They organize erseas Chinese Who might approve force willi fincial conributlons partly possible retribution And travel restrictions difficult establish close contacts Overseas Chise As problem leadership thoughtful Chinese observer Hong Kong recently Dymic leadership emerges aetlon involvi risks writing andai Even parade demonstration produce leaders Bu question inHoko The obstacles effective force oranization developi great objective observers improbable foreseeable future anythi small clique If force supporters Hon Kong organized political Influence China situation obtains number different answers A aoually forward revolution action stime future This small minority however there appears little basis theXr Up until about quite alked about consolidating guerilla activi mainland Under their leadership Communists success suppressing guerillas endedmos Te vestige elief force guerilla might maintained obtainedforeign support confused Chlna lndla border reglon Most force leaders think exclusively terms exerting political influence The existere pendent political organization possible assert influence ainland Taiwan It oreate believe which alive those dissidents mainland against Communists confldence Kuomintang It might attract defee tions their opinion They believe might exert desirable influence Nationalist Government There doubt force supporters Would eventually Taiwan Join united front against Communists could retain their political independence distance their influence would bolster liberal democratic elements Taiwan Influence these sorts possible means certain force becomes force The developmen force conceivably could merely repressive counter acbion against possible influence which mighb exert Acually practical possibility organized force emerging influence described follows If there world major upheavl which produces confused chaotic situation China opportunities political movemen arise Chinese political experience recently Communist regime defeated sarts disintegrate Kuominang which mainland support Many people looking something If there political movement whether allied Nationaliss operating independently people would probably support There numerous force supporters organizing preparing possibility situation Their future however Naiona depends history events which little control They might under certain circumstances emerge political significance Or turnouobenohingmorehsnfletsamand Jetsam destinedo foreign waters sranded foreign Shores Sinoerely yours A Doak Barnett Received New York