Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-01

- around the room
n and waited. OH
GERS of the preSl-
Dental escort came
and peeped III az
w. us and went away.
Our Chinese COM
panionS Of the trip
\ bus l e d about
MIR. Ivan. nerVo uSly. We
Whiled away the
time of our waiting by making plans
for the verbatim reporting of anything
the President of China might have to
say to us. having been told that he
spoke extemporaneouSly. Cigars and
cigarettes were passed. Servants came
and rearranged the table somewhat. A
small table was set on one side. Every
body shifted seats. Half an hour went
by. Our mornings prearranged Sched-
ule was being sadly diSarranged.
Suddenly the door was opened, one
of our escort appeared and. standing to
one side, announced: Gentlemen OF the
American press, the PRESIDENT Quietly
entered youngiSh man OF medium
height. seemingly slender as far as could
be judged. as he wore Stifliy ironed
linen frock OF characteristic Chinese
blue, falling to his feet. We all arose
and stood in line while Chang Kai Shek
went around the room and shook hands
with each member Of our delegation as
we were individually presented to him.
An Agreeable Person.
He has an agreeable personality. His
complexion is lighter than the average
Chinese. He has no pronounced Mon
goloid features. He wears small, clip
ped muStache, and his hair Is kept
rather closely cut. His hands are long
and slender. His eyes are keen and
meet Squarely the looks OF those whom
he faces. AS he graSped each hand he
looked straight into the eyes of the per-
son newly named and studied them for
a couple of seconds. There was sim
gular manneriSm that was especially
noticeable. AS names were given the
President emitted a series of sharp,
staccato grunts, as If in assent. Perhaps
they have a meaning in Chinese.
The introductionS over, we all seated
ourselves at the table, Chang kai Shek
at the head. There was silence, lasting
for fully minute. Then servants went
about and poured tea and passed the
plates of cakes. Nothing was said. Sud
denly, Chang Kai Shek spoke to his in
terpreter, who told us that the PreSi-
dent would like to have members Of
our party ask him any questions they
pleased. One or two questions were put
and interpreted, but no answers came.
Then the President arose and spoke, III
clear voice. with no hesitation. He
paused after three or four sentences
and nodded to the interpreter. who gave
us the English version. in excellent die
ton and style, without hesitation.
I shall give the speech OF Chang Kai
Shek, as fully as possible, even though
by the time this Letter is printed mat
tiers may have come to a crisis here
and Chang Kai Shek may no longer be
Number One Boy" in China. Predic-
tons to that effect have reached our
ears. On the other hand. the most
confident expressions of faith in the
stability of the present government have
also reached us. from apparently well
informed sources. If Chang Kal Shek
succeeds in his present efforts Il uni
f1cation and is still President 81 China
when this letter appears. his speech will
serve as an indication of his course and
policy. If otherwise, it will have Ger
tain historical value as swan song.
Here it is:
MY very dear friends of the Ameri-
can press: Two weeks ago I heard of
your arrival in China and expected to
receive you in Marking. But the honor
and pleasure have been increased by the
privilege of receiving you instead here
III GIle dLICACLlG CdEAbo1 Va NA1AAo
Cites 18-Year Struggle.
"In your investigations you, as has
been pointed out by your question, have
been interested in a matter in which
we also are deeply interested, namely,
the progress of unification in China. On
this question would like to deal briefly
and make response. China has been
striving for democratic government for
10 years, during which time there has
been much chaos and conflict with va
rious forces. Apparently on the surface
of the matter we have achieved very
little. You may think that we have. in
fact, deteriorated in this period. This
is condition that is quite essential"
1t is to be noted that President Chang
Kai Shek may not have used the Chi
nese word meaning essential" but the
interpreter so translated it. Probably
he meant inevitable" or unavoidable
Or something of that sort. But, however
that may be, the general meaning was
evident. The President continued:
your view is somewhat shared by
our own people, who realize that very
little progress in reconstruction has
been made But please remember that
this has been a period of transition ard
in such time stress of politics and Of
interests Is inevitable. This is stage
of our progress through which We must
pass to achieve that for which our peo-
pie have striven in revolution. It Is a
necessary evil to attain the greater aim
of national unif1cation, which in very
short time we hope to accomplish.
, You may ask how We may know OF
the progress that is to come. The an
Swer Is. because of the difference be-
tween the Nationalist cause in 1912 and
the cause since then. In the first year
Of the republic, although We succeeded
in overthrowing the absolute monarchy
of the Manchus. we did not succeed In
overthrowing the reactionary party
We had faith at first in Yuan Shi Kai
and hoped he would establish the gov
eminent on the absolute principles OF
democracy. But there was a breach OF
confidence % on his part. Conse-
quently for Is years chaos reigned In
China. The country was divided be-
tween the militarists, a most regrettable
condition.
China Realizes Mistakes.
1--WE have realized our mistakes, and
have seen that it is not true to the best
interests of China to leave the country
in the hands of the militaristS. So OF
all the 10 years since the establishment
of the republic during only five years
has there been chance for true ma
tionalism. But during those flve years
much has been done. During three OF
the five years we could work only fol
&tn ~ nation Iicrn THE f1rgt