Evening star., 1939-03-04
China S Confidence
Greater Now Than
For Many Months
Defeotist und Dissident
Elements Few; Chang
Backed by Public
BY A. T. STEELE,

BY A. T. STEELE,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
CHUNGKING, March 4 (By
Radio japanese and others who
believe that the Chinese govern
ment is on the verge of falling to
pieces are suffering from a delusion.
There is more confidence and less
talk Of internal friction in China
than for many months. Generalis-
simo Chang Kai-shek is more truly
the nations strong man than ever
for he has gained firm foothold in
key provinces heretofore regarded
as doubtful.
There Is certain amount of in
ternal squabbling. but defeatist and
dissident elements are so few and
so weak that they cannot be taken
too seriously. Provincial militarists
are cooperating with the govern
ment, whether they like it or not.
They are we'll aware that public
opinion is strongly behind the gen.
eralissimo and that opposition in
face of the present public temper
would be suicidal.
Chinese Are Realistic.
1t is quite true that the Chinese
nave been through similar phases
OF optimism which later were de-
mated but one gets the impression
mat the Chinese have their feet
more solidiy planted in reality than
heretofore. There is less bombast
ana fewer sweeping predictions, vet
.he convection never was so widely
helo as today that Japan cannot
win.
Whether China can win is equally
questionable. The general view
rlghtly or Wrongly-is that the jap
anese army is losing its momentum
becoming begged down, and nearing
It's ultimate limits of advance. and
that the war is entering a long pe-
rloo OF stalemate which an honora BILE
peace or a greater war between
Japan and other powers NAV even
tually bring to its termination.
Today l talked with DR., H. H
kung. China's minister of finance
and chairman of the Executive Yuan
who reiterated that China would
oppose direct conversations with
Japan, but would welcome another
nlne-poWer conference to discuss a
general settlement of Far Eastern
problems.
Why does Japan object to such a
conference DR.. Kung asked. III
she Is sincere in her promises to
respect China's sovereignty and ter
rltorlal integrity, she should not
lear an international forum"
Believes Wang Misled.
DR.. kung said he was confident
That Wang Ching wei would never
become a Japanese puppet. Wang
former premier, deserted Chung
King and fed the country about two
months ago. He then issued a man
lfesto in which he urged nepotia-
tlons for peace on the basis of pre-
vlously announced Japanese pro-
posals.
Wang has been misled by
Others DR.. Kung added. "Instead
OF presenting proposals in meetings
OF the government party the kuo-
mlntang), he ran off to a foreign
country-a grave mistake"
DR.. kung asserted that China has
suf1lcient military supplies on hand
to last until next winter, with more
on the way. He admitted that
transportation presented difficulties
but expected that the problem would
be eased with the arrival of hum
dreds OF new trucks at present en-
route from America. He said that
the government was developing new
sources Of income to cope with the
problem resulting from the sever
ance OF customs revenues although
IT had been necessary to borrow
considerable amounts from the
banks and to sell large issues of
bonds.
ICopyrieht. 1879 by
CHICAGO Daily News. 1nc.D