The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-02-23

Wheiever II was,
Confueius Said II
b. RAYMOND CLAPPER
NA>HISGTON-Before Nine.
Chang kai-Shek came down
here the other day. I looked back
over the notes OF my visit with
her for tea in Chungking last
April I thought perhaps I had
been overly impressed. The first
few lines IN my notebook run az
follows.
Then Holly Tong took me
10 sec Madame CHANG. She
morf than hssd up 20 buiIdup.
spesks Engilsh-no accent
siEarei an long hoider-Col.
Dhsnnauli Mas leaving a. 1
arrived and shs introduced
me- = she has eysrything-
looks, vii, sisaeits and intelli-
genee."
She asked about the airplsne
trip. whether il was hard. the
route, how many days, and other
travelling details. She said she
might 20 to the United States for
treatment soon. She talked about
the Indian situation, and at length
about sbolishing extra territor-
islty, and said she was hitting
from ths shoulder"
believe that what wrote
about Madame Chang at that time
laid 1t on fairly thick. But on the
basis of her first few days in
Washington, IT seems TO stand up.
She has conquered all here thus
fer.
Even the neuspaperwomen
have gone all ont for her-so
she must have something that
even Clare Iuef hasn't got,
because the lovely Clare had
to work her WAY through.
Newspaper correspondents who
were at the White House press
conference when she appeared with
the president participated in
show such as we probably shall
never see again.
II Was high state drama.
played by the real characters.
some day they may put Helen
Hayes In the part but she'll
never do II any better than
Madame acted II An real life.
IL MAS the delicate, feminine,
shre~d, quick, witty and pow
erful first lady Of the east
against the great master him
self.
AS the press conference began
the president asked the reporters
not to put any catch questions to
Madame. shs in turn played to
the president as the big strong
man who could work miracles.
Madame Chang, tiny. with feet
dangling from the high-seated
Roosevelt chair, was working
smoothly, while toying with her
compact, to coax 8 promise out of
President Roosevelt for China. Mr..
Roosevelt, the master of the press
conference technique, was trying
with equal smoothness not TO melt
too much under hadame's tech
nique.
Imagine the scene. Two hundred
reporters in on the show, Madame
Chang sitting between the presi-
dent and Mrs Roosevelt, who laid
her hand protectingly on Madame's
fragile arm.
Madame makes 9 lively little
greeting, with delicate flowers for
everyone. A reporter dhrusts a
direct question as to whether
Chinas manpower is being fully
used in the war.
Madame holds her poise,
hut with a touch Of feeling
replies that China's men are
fighting 10 the extent that
munitions are available for
them. When more munitions
are sent 10 China more men
will fight. With the greatest
of ease, she has thrown the
ball squareiy into the lap of the
president. He explains that
we will send munitions As fast
a. the Lord will let us.
Madame, smiling an making
IL all SO polite and sweet
saws she hears there Is n say
ing that the Lord helps those
who help themselves.
About that time President
Roosevelt indicated it had gone on
long enough and suggested that
II the reporters had any questions
for him they'd better be getting
on with them.
AS we left the presidents office,
the three were sitting inserutaoly
in q neat row. Mrs. RooseveltG
hand was no longer laid protect
inglv on Madame arm. Msdsms,
not a hair ruffled. had & pleasant
impersonal gaze from which no
thoughts escaped. The president
was busy with parting words 10
struggling reporters.
Whatever IL was that Con-
fuscius said, IL sure was o
mouthful.