Evening star., 1937-04-16
Continued From First Page.)

credence and much publicity. News
papers the world around printed them
with screaming headlines.
Marking, the capital, was as much
in the dark as Shanghai, but I, with
DR.. Kung and w. H. Donald (whom
had asked to fly to SIAM hastened
there. Editors note: Mr.. Donald,
an Australian, is close personal
friend Of Chiang) found that, while
official circles had been aStounded
by the unexpected nature of the coup
and were wrought up to a state of
high tension, members of the Standing
Committee of the Central Executive
Committee and the Central Political
Council had taken action. They had
deprived Chang Hsueh-Liang, leader
OF the mutiny, of his position as a
member of the Military Affairs Com
mission and concurrently acting COM
mander in chief of the Northwestern
bandit suppression forces, and referred
him to the Military Affairs Commits
sion for severe punishment. In a
mandate they denounced him bitterly.
charges Made in Telegram.
Earlier in the day : ular tele-
gram had come from Sian signed by
Chang Hsueh-liang, Yang Hu-chen
(pacification commissioner of hensD
and their leading officers and bearing
the alleged signatures of a number of
Central government officials ther in
Sian. In this telegram number of
charges were made which, the tele-
gram said, made their hair stand on
end" They said tina they h-.d "ad-
vised him (the generalissimo) with
tears, but were repeatedly chastised,"
and that they therefore rendered our
last advice to Marshal Chang Kai-
shek, while guaranteeing his safety in
order to stimulate his awakening"
They set forth group of .ght de-
mands, described as points of ma
tional salvation" which they hoped
the I,anking authorities would "stoop"
to adopt, 80 rs to open one line c life
for the future"
The eight points called for the re-
organization Of the Marking govern
ment, the cessation of civil war (Which
clearly referred to the anti Communist
campaign, the Immediate release of
several members Of the National SAL
vation Association who had been ar
rested in Shanghai, the release of all
lolltlcal prisoners, Il. removal of re-
strictions upon patriotic movements,
the granting Of free speech to press
and assemblies Of people, the carrying
out of the will Of the late DR.. Sun
Yat-sen and the immediate convoca-
ton of National Salvation Com ress.
Editors note: In less diplomatic
language, what the Sian rebels were
demanding was that Chang bring
about united front to resist further
japanese aggression in North China.
The National Salvation Association is
an anti-Japanese organization in
China that has long advocated re-
slstance to Japan's armed thrusts in
the north.)
Must Assert Views.
This was the situation, wrapped in
increasing excitement and concern, as
we found it when We reached Marking
Sunday morning, December 13. I
quickly was to learn that I was
regarded as woman who could not
be expected to be reasonable in such
q situation, but more swiftly real
lied that if a common sense solution
was to be sought I must assert my
views and insist upon a sane line OF
action being taken.
While expressing misgivings as to
the wisdom Of hastily penalizing
Chang Hsueh-liang before the full
facts Of the situation were known or
before DR.. Kung and I had arrived
in Marking, was faced with a much
more serious problem-to wit, what
looked to me like an unhealthy obses-
sion on the part of leading military
officers who asserted that they felt it
their inexorable duty to mobilize the
machine forthwith and
launch an immediate punitive expedi-
tion to attack Sian. To my mind, this
was point of view that was intoler-
able. So, rightly or wrongly, I de-
cided to fight 1t and strive for
quick, calm and bloodless settlement
of the whole affair.
Before am, telegraphed Chang
that Mr.. Donald was fly
ing that day to Sian.
Pleaded for Calmness.
I had determined conferences with
the nations leaders. I pleaded for
calmness Of judgment pending the re-
ceipt Of definite news. I urged that
the leaders in Sian, until proved 9TH
erWise, should be taken at their word,
but every effort should speedily be
made to get at the truth.
Perhaps they have a legitimate
I hazarded. After all, we
are all Chinese-don't let's fight If we
can find way out of it,
I did not take the eight points men,
toned In the telegram of the Sian
leaders seriously. 1t was known that
Chang's men were dissatisfied with the
barren conditions Of the northwest, so
it was surmised that these purely DO
htlcal conditions were merely an ex-
cuse in order to bargain for terms for
richer provinces. This belief, perhaps,
influenced those who advocated On i'm
mediate punitive expedition.
Early in the morning two other
delayed kilograms arrived from Chang
Hsueh-liang, one to DR.. Kung and
one to me. At first reading it angered
me. Then several thoughts flashed
through my mind: Did Chang really
sign the telegram? Was he not hav-
ing trouble with his men? II he did
sign 1t, was it done in an outburst
of anger?
Inc awaited replies from Chang
regarding Mr.. Donald's visit did not
come. To save time, Mr.. Donald.
after lunch, left for Loyang with Col.
j. l.. Huang, whom sent in case a
translator should be necessary.
TO Chang Hsueh-liang I wrote a
long letter DOintinp o,,t +ha d;co,+..