Evening star., 1927-05-02

Gen. Chang Kai Shek, leader or the
Moderate Nationalists, was blameless
for the Marking incident, which, il
further said, evidently was framed by
Hankow radicals to discredit Chang.
Chang and Leaders Break.
Talking to me some weeks ago
Chang replied to my question on that
matter by declaring that If it was
proved that Communists melted the
outrage, he would break with Han
kow. He has since taken that action.
His severance from the Kuomintang
Left Wing is now complete. Reports
indicate fighting already between
troops of Chang and Hankow near
kiukiang.
The shaky condition of the Hankow
government becomes more evident
every week. Many observers think it
is yerging on collapse and that all
fairly moderate members, including
Eugene Chen, foreign minister. prob.
ably will sieZe the first chance to get
away and perhaps join Chang at Nam
king.
Conditions in Hankow verge on an
archy and the place is menaced also
by the Northern advance through
Honan Province. On the other hand.
Chang seems to be making little
progress toward getting the Marking
government organized. The cabinet
Is still uniformed, and prominent Right
Wing members of the Kuomintang
still hold off and remain in Shanghai.
apparently waiting to see whether
Nanking or Hankow survives.
Meantime the Northern campaign
AGAINST Nanklng is virtually suspend
eel. Chang and Chang Tso Lin. Man.
churian war lord, deny publicly that
they are making terms but it is un-
derstod that their agents are confer.
ring daily at Shanghai.
Early Truce Expected.
Belief grows among the Chinese
that a truce has been, or will be de-
clared between these generals, permit
ting Chang to devote his entire
strength against the Communists.
The movement started a fortnight
ago to suppress Communists in
Shanghai continues. Chang's gen
erals are using drastic measures, stop.
ping all so-called labor meetings. Sew.
eral secret meeting have been raided,
with killing and casualties. These and
other actions convince foreigners that
Chang means to stand or fall on the
policy of carrying on war against an
archy.
Conditions in Shanghai are becom-
ing easier than expected. The curfew
has been lifted and some barricades
will be removed soon. Less tention is
felt all around, but experts think the
crisis has not been reached. The sus-
pense Will continue anyway until il
is decided whether Marking or Han
kow will control the Kuomintang and
direct the Nationalists' movement.
Foreign opinion is slowly swinging
to Chang, and calmer persons believe
It would be better to delay diplomatic
pressure regarding the Nanking out.
rage until the situation between the
Moderates and Radicals liquidates.
Disappointment in Shanghai.
There is strong local disappointment
among the foreigners here over the
failure of the Municipal Council of
the International Settlement at
Shanghai to take over control of the
entire Shanghai port area. Today a
prominent Briton published a letter
saying that action should be taken
while conditions are ripe, without
waiting for diplomatic consent.
On the other hand, Prof Manley
Hudson, Harvard University expert
on international law, who recently
visited Shanghai. gave out state
ment before departing for Japan
stating that the unique irresponsible
character Of the Municipal Council
made it dangerous to permit it's de-
Gliding grave international questions.
(Copyright. 1927