43rd Double Tenth Anniversary
Viewing the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the as the turning point of the destiny of Free China, all the local papers opined that the day of reckoning with the Communists had come. Inspired with the spirit of our revolutionary fathers, we should accomplish at an early date our historic mission of delivering our compatriots from the tyrannical, rule of the Communists and recovering the mainland.
In celebrating our 43rd National Day, the Central Daily News editorialized, "we should always keep in mind the difficulties which Dr. Sun Yat-sen and our revolutionary martyrs encountered in founding the Republic and the spirit which underlined it." "The anti-Communist and anti-Russian War," continued the paper, "is in fact, the last stage of our national revolution, the significance of which is twofold. It is a war for the maintenance of our national independence and territorial integrity and also for democracy. Both of these objectives, however, cannot be achieved without first crushing the Soviet imperialists and their Chinese stooges and the recovery of the mainland," Five years of Communist rule has greatly impoverished the people on the mainland and the puppet regime has proved itself just a satellite of Soviet Russia. The outcry for "the liberation of " by the Communists, in the opinion of the daily, "has as its chief purpose the diversion of the people's attention from the misery and oppression at home. As a matter of fact, it is an indirect admission by the Communists that they have come to the end of their tether. We are well prepared for such an eventuality. If they ever attempt such an invasion, it may well prove the beginning of their doom."
Declaring that the best way to celebrate this auspicious occasion was to recover the mainland with blood, wisdom, determination and courage at an early date, the Combined Daily editorially indicated that "all the revolutionary wars in history were fought by the weak against the strong and the former in most cases turned what had seemed to be a hopeless situation at the time into one favorable to them." "Though our present position," the paper went on to say, "has greatly improved as compared with that of five years ago, there are still nations in the free world which are ready to secure their own temporary security at the expense of others. Be that as it may, with the example set by our revolutionary fathers who started the revolution with nothing but their enthusiasm, vision and courage, we should unhesitatingly go ahead with our historic mission to complete the last stage of our national revolution."
Asserting that in the celebration of the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Republic we should constantly ask ourselves what this day signified and what lesson we could learn from it, the Hsin Sheng Pao editorially declared that "in waging a revolutionary war, spiritual force can usually overcome material deficiencies, as has been demonstrated by many historical examples, the most prominent of which were the overthrow of the Manchu Dynasty and the success of the Northern Expedition." "Today we are again involved in a life and death struggle against the Communists. Though our manpower and material resources may be inferior to those of our enemy,” the paper continued, "they are amply made up by the whole-hearted support given us by the Chinese people, including our oppressed brethren on the mainland."
"In commemoration of our National Day, we have first of all to pay our respects to our warriors in the front whose valor has crushed to pieces the futile attempt which the Communists have recently made to take Kinman and Tachen. We have also to pay our respects to the 14,000 anti-Communist ex-POWs and those of our compatriots fleeing to Free China from behind Iron Curtain at the very risk of their lives, because they are the embodiment of the true sentiments of thousands upon thousands of our less lucky brethren still under the yoke of Communist tyranny." Thus declared the Chung Hwa Jih Pao in its editorial. "The phenomenal progress that has been made in all fields of endeavor in Free China and the deep hatred harbored by our compatriots on the mainland against the Communist rule," pointed out the paper, "are two factors which augur well for our counterattack against the mainland. With the day of reckoning drawing near, all of us should gird up our loins and redouble our efforts so as to hasten the deliverance of our brethren from the diabolical clutches of the Communist tyrants."
"Whether from the historical, national or political point of view, the Double Tenth anniversary is of such a nature that it is worthy of our everlasting remembrance. In celebrating this memorable occasion, we should always bear in mind its significance." Thus declared the Kung Lun Pao editorially. "It was forty-three years ago today" continued the paper, "that our revolutionary forefathers started the revolution which ultimately overthrew the Manchu Dynasty and established the Republic. This glorious page in our history, however, was written with blood and tears. The difficulties confronting them then were far greater than what we are facing now. We should be inspired by their example and redouble our efforts to accomplish the mission of our generation-the completion of the final stage of the national revolution."
In an editorial on October 10, the China Post asserted that "the forty-third anniversary of the funding of the sees the completion of another year of steady progress in the Republic of China." "Taken in their chronological order," the daily continued, "the significant events of the last twelve months" are the successful implementation of the land-to-the-tiller program in Taiwan, which is the most concrete evidence showing that both the Kuomintang and the National Government are in dead earnest to bring about real reform in the traditional system of land tenure in order to better the living conditions of the rural people; the refusal of the 14,000 anti-Communist ex-POWs to go back to the Communist-controlled mainland and their voluntary choice of Free China as their future home which is an indisputable proof that all freedom-loving people on the Chinese mainland are looking to Taiwan for comfort and hope of eventual liberation from the present Red tyranny; the convocation of the National Congress to elect President Chiang Kai-shek to succeed himself as the Chief Executive of the Republic of China under the Constitution adopted at the end of World War II; the passage of the Statute for Investment by Foreign Nationals by the Legislative Yuan to stabilize and strengthen the economy of this country; and finally, the inauguration of the Asian Peoples' Anti-Communist League, which, will henceforth serve as a rallying point for all Chinese who remain or aspire to be free.
The 9-Power Conference
"Upon the success or failure of the nine-power London Conference will depend the future of and the world. It can lead to a strengthening of the free world or to perilous divisions." Thus declared the Central Daily News editorially on September 27. "In face of the threat of aggression by the Soviet bloc" the paper continued, "every free nation should contribute all its available strength the efforts that are made to deal with the common enemy so as to safeguard the collective security. There is no plausible reason for to prevent from rearming herself for the protection of her own security, which is in fact the wish of all other free nations." The key to the solution of the problem, in the opinion of the daily, "is what kind of guarantees needs and whether is willing to accept certain restrictions placed upon her armament."
In another editorial on October 5, the same paper expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the London Conference "which has averted the crisis precipitated by the collapse of the EDC on the one hand and dealt a severe blow to the Communist bloc aimed at splitting the free world on the other." "The most important achievement of the conference," pointed out the paper. "is to bring into the defensive framework of the democratic camp and thus to enable her to contribute her share in the defense of . Together with the Manila Pact, the agreement has helped to fill two big gaps left open as a result of the partition of Indo-China and the coup de grace dealt to EDC by the French National Assembly.”
Speculating on the London Conference, the Chung Hua Jih Pao, in two successive articles on September 26 and October 1, said that "the new crisis precipitated by the defeat of EDC is both political and military. The political objective is to tie to an integrated Western Europe; the military objective is to make use of the power of in the defense of and ." "In fact," the paper continued, "the two objectives are indissolubly linked. To accomplish the one without the other not only means an uncompleted effort but is also dangerous. As the situation now stands, the participation of in the defense of will serve as a counterweight to the increasing menace of the Soviet bloc. Moreover, it is hard to see how a virile and vigorous nation like can be kept disarmed, if its neighbors are armed. As a matter of fact, what the London Conference is going to debate is not whether should rearm but when and how.”
Commenting on the London Conference, the Hsin Sheng Pao editorialized on September 30 that the principal objections to German rearmament are political, emotional and psychological. They stem chiefly, if not entirely, from . 's fear of a rebirth of German militarism is not un founded, if we take into consideration the fact that within a century she has been a victim of German invasion for three times. However, the increasing menace of the Soviet bloc has left the Western powers with no other alternative. The participation of in the Western European defense is absolutely necessary to the achievement of a balance of power between and the Allies."
Asserting that unless a substitute plan could be found in the London Conference, Europe would soon face a situation fraught with incalculaple consequences, the Combined Daily in its editorial on September 30 pointed out that the crucial question before the foreign ministers of the nine powers was to find a formula for German rearmament acceptable to both and . "Whatever form it may take," continued the paper, "one thing is certain: it would not embody the same idealism as was characteristic of EDC, which had as its final objective the political integration of .”
While viewing the agreement reached in the London Conference as the beginning of a new era in , the same paper editorially deplored on October 5 that "nothing has been done in the conference with regard to German re-unification." "To leave divided as it is," the daily continued, "is contrary to the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter. It is in fact appeasement par excellence. It would be all very well if German re-unification could be achieved by peaceful means. If this cannot be done, the free world should not hesitate to take upon itself to liberate that part of now behind the Iron Curtain by whatever effective means necessary to the attainment of the purpose. A divided would be a perpetual source of trouble detrimental to the peace and security of that part of the world."
Commenting on the London Conference, the Kung Lun Pao said editorially on October 5 that its success was a victory for the free world and a defeat for the Soviet bloc. "The basic policy of the in ," the paper went on to say, "has been to bring about unity among the Western European powers and some kind of supranational authority to put an end to the wars and economic rivalries that have divided them. The agreement, though far from being wholly satisfactory, has achieved such a result. This policy has the full support of , which is a full-fledged member of the Brussels Treaty Organization, and the promise of to restrict certain types and the quantity of her arms production. now feels safe. While national unification has been the dominent urge of the Germans, is at least content for the present with the restoration of sovereignty and the fact she can once more stand as a full sovereign power in the family of nations. The solidarity of the Western powers is the undoing of Soviet Russia, which has usually capitalized on the disunity of the free world to fatten itself.”
's Seat in UN
Declaring that the overwhelming support given to the resolution to postpone the consideration of seating the representatives of the puppet regime was a triumph of justice, the local vernaculars demanded that the United Nations go a step further by refusing to consider any application for membership by those countries bent on aggression.
The postponement of the consideration of this question was viewed by the Central Daily News editorially on September 23 as a victory not only of Free China but also of all its peace-loving members. "In consideration of the conduct of Soviet Russia and her satellites and their flagrant disregard of international law and treaties," continued the paper, "there is practically no common ground upon which the free nations can stand with them, to say nothing of peaceful co-existence. It behooves the United nations, therefore, to take a step further by expelling Soviet Russia and all its satellites from this august body for the promotion of world peace. Only then will it be worth its name and the purpose for which it has been set up."
"The bombardment of Kinmen by the Chinese Communists was directed both at the Manila Conference and the 9th session of the United Nations General Assembly," declared the Combined Daily in its editorial on the same day. "With the attention of the whole world rivetted on the Taiwan Straits," the paper went on to say, "they hoped against hope that they might be able to split the free world and isolate the , thereby facilitating their entry into the United Nations. The signing of a mutual defense pact in and the shelving of the Russian proposal to seat the puppet regime in the United Nations, however, have set to naught their devious design.” "What Soviet Russia and the Chinese Communists have done in the past few years is completely in violation of both the letter and spirit of the UN Charter. To put off the puppet regime's bid for another year would only have a temporizing effect and the problem still remains unsolved. It is hoped that the United Nations would see fit to pass a resolution to refuse to consider any application for UN membership by countries bent on warlike activities," added the paper.
Declaring that the vote on the United States resolution to postpone consideration of seating the Chinese Communist representatives for another year was a triumph of justice, the independent Kung Lun Pao editorialized on September 23 that "it proves that world opinion in the past year has not changed toward the Chinese Communists." "The vote last year on a resolution to postpone consideration of the issue during the rest of 1953 was 44 to 10," pointed out the paper, "and the vote in favor of postponement for another year was 43 to 11. On the surface, there is one more vote than that of the last year in favor of the Chinese Communists. Actually, they have alienated the support of and won two new votes cast by and . being a Communist country, it is all very natural that it should give its support to the Chinese Communists, while , a small country far away from Asia, is of no great importance. On the other hand, their failure to win the support of means much more to them than the winning of one additional vote."