Answer one question from one section only. Section C: International option China and Japan, 1912–45 Read the sources and then answer both parts of the question. Source A Oh brothers: were you fools or heroes to march? The imperialist bullets were of steel, your bodies only of flesh and blood. But see: Chiang Kai-shek's new wife has a beautiful diamond ring and a twelve-thousand-dollar automobile with expensive musical horns, and he rolls in splendour to his palace while his mercenaries cheer. He has glory and power, while you are dead. But oh, my brothers: don't envy that traitor general. All China knows that the workers' blood and sweat pay for those luxuries. All China will find revenge. And you, my brothers, were not foolish or mad, but the first sparks of the fire to burn him up. You will live while it blazes, the fire of World Revolution. From a poem called ‘To the Martyred Students and Workers Killed in the Shanghai Massacre', published in a radical newspaper, May 1928. Source B We are fighting this war for our national existence and for freedom. A virtuous government has the support of the people. In our present struggle against Japan we have been able to live up to this high principle. Economically we have the advantage. During eighteen months of hostilities our financial structure has not been seriously injured, our currency has remained steady and the livelihood of the people has been little affected. Owing to the excellent harvests in several provinces last year and the campaign against waste, there are signs of plenty among our people. There is no use denying the fact that we have lost much territory. We have sacrificed heavily the lives and wealth of our fellow-countrymen and have abandoned vast material properties and resources. Our enemy today is approaching collapse. With determination and confidence in victory we can offset our shortage of modern armaments. From a speech by Chiang Kai-shek to the Central Committee of the Kuomintang, 1939. Source C Many left-wing writers comment that the Kuomintang is hopelessly corrupt. It does include a very high proportion of shopkeepers, Christians, landlords, students and others who have lived overseas. Since the Kuomintang was Westernised, it gathered modernised Chinese of all classes. Naturally the poorest peasants and workers were not a large proportion of such membership. As the governing group, the Kuomintang naturally attracts those who would seek to enter any government. Since it does not promote rural class warfare, existing class relationships continue. It has tried, not always efficiently or faithfully, to carry out land reform and democratisation. The Kuomintang has tolerated widespread corruption because this already existed. It was preoccupied with building a national government, a modern army, adequate finance, and with eradicating some of the worst evils, such as opium, bandits, and Communists (who, whatever their ideals, made a poor nation poorer by fighting this merciless civil war). From an account by an American living in China and advising Chiang Kai-shek, 1941. Source D Chiang Kai-shek says he won't fight the Japanese. What a fight the Russians have made. Compare it with the Chinese disaster. Chiang and his regime are a gang of thugs with the one idea of preserving themselves and their regime. Money, influence, and position are the only consideration of the leaders. Conspiracy, double-crossing, lying reports. Grasping for anything they can get; their only idea is to let someone else do the fighting; false propaganda on their 'heroic struggle'; indifference of leaders to their men. Cowardice and corruption everywhere, smuggling above duty, colossal ignorance and stupidity of staff, total inability to control factions and cliques, continued oppression of the masses. The only factor that saves them is the silent compliance of the common people. We are manoeuvred into a position of having to support this rotten regime and glorify its figurehead, the all-wise, great patriot and soldier Chiang. From US General Joseph Stilwell's diary, January 1942. He was commander of the American Army Forces in China, 1942–44. Answer both parts of the question with reference to the sources.