Evening star., 1937-04-17
BY MAYLING SOONG CHANG
lMme. Chang Kai-shekl

tCopyrieht, 1887, by Nine. Chang Kali
shek and the North American Newspaper
Alliance Inc. All rights reserved. Re-
production in whole or in part forbidden)
SHANGHAI-The first real glimpse
Of hope, the first tangible justification
for my confidence, came Monday eve
ming, December IA, in the form OF a
telegram from Mr.. Donald then at
Sian, saying that the generalissimo
was well, that he was comfortably
housed and that he (Mr. Donald)
was with him. This telegram added
that Han-chen (Chang Hsueh-liang)
urged DR.. Kung to go to Sian, and
especially wished me to go. In later
telegram direct to me, Chang asked
me to 60 to Sian and assured me
no harm was intended to the gen.
eralissimo.
To me 1t was amazing that doubts
were cast upon the telegram sent by
Mr.. Donald. The minds of some
people had been made up that the
generallsslmo was in serious posi-
ton, If he were not dead and they
were reluctant to believe anything to
the contrary. They argued that Mr..
Donald was sending a message de-
signed to please the Sian people and
lure DR.. Kung, finance minister, to
Sian, so that those responsible for
the coup would have an additional
captive and therefore stronger hold
in making terms.
The wire from Chang Hsueh- lang
to me was interpreted in some quar-
ters as scheme to lure me to Sian
to hold me as hostage. I made
desperate efforts to go to Sian, and
be it said that DR.. Kung, as we'll
as each of my sisters and brothers,
offered to 90 with me.
Those favoring fighting did not seem
to me to be over -merciful in their en-
deavors to Illustrate my persistency,
and in the heat Of arguments there did
not appear to be much time for gen.
tleness.
But I received a surprise Tuesday
afternoon December 15) when
heard Mr.. Donald talking to me from
Loyang by long distance telephone. He
had flown there that morning, through
bad weather, to give me direct infor-
nation Of the situation at Sian.
He painted swift picture. He con-
flrmed that the generalissimo was not
being ill-treated; that he had con-
sented, on Mr.. Donald's arrival. to
move to comfortable house; that the
generalsslmo had then, for the first
time, talked to some extent with Ham
chen, though he was still furious and
resentful; that Han-chen had ex-
pressed his determination to go with
the generalissimo to Marking, because
what he had done, though wrong, was
with good motives; that Han-chen
particularly wanted me to go there, as
well as DR.. Kung, and assured me of
the high respect in which he and his
associates held me: that the generals
slmo had instructed that I be told
not to go to Sian on any account.
I urged Mr. Donald to fly to Nam
king next day, but he refused, as he
had promised the generalissimo and
Han-chen to return to Sian. told
him the military officers were deter
mined to attack Sian at once and that
If he returned there, he, too, probably
would be killed. I urged him to in
form the generalissimo of the situa-
ton.
He told me that although he could
not go to Nanking, James c. Elder
ian Englishman, close friend of
Chang Hsueh-li -liang), who had come
from Sian with him, would leave
next morning for Nanking, could tell
me all that had happened and would
take a letter giving me further In
formation.
Dr. Kung Unable to Leave.
Later that night I telephoned Mr..
Donald, telling him that doctors ad-
vised against DR.. Kung flying to Sian,
but, in any case, he could not leave.
as he was acting as head of the gov
ernment. I asked him to find out
from Han-chen if T. v. Soong (my
brother} and Gen. Ku Chu-tung "a
trusted officer of the generalissino,
then chairman of Kwechow Province)
would be acceptable instead of DR..
Kung. I informed him that every
effort was being made to prevent my
going, but that in spite OF everything
was determined to go.
I asked him whether he had sent
out any news kilograms, as it was
being said he was supporting Chang.
He told me he had sent only two
kilograms, one short news summary
and one a brief reply to a message
from Hallett Abend, the New York
Times correspondent in Shanghai
During the day Mr.. Donald's wire