Evening star., 1944-10-31
StiIwe|I Custer
Called Chiang's 5
|Face-Saver'
Action Followed U. S.
Demands for
Firmer War Action --
BY PRESTON GROVER,

Associated Press War Correspondent.
NEW DELHI, Oct. 31.-The re-
moval of Gen. Joseph w. Still
well as commander in the China
Burma-India theater, 1t can be
reported today, resulted from a
combination of strategy and
diplomacy such as could arise
only in the Orient.
1t is possible only today to get
further details passed through CEN
sorship.
The abrupt new shaping of the
whole American position in this part
of the world war front began with
the arrival in Chungking two
months ago of Maj Gen. Patrick j.
Hurley and Donald M. Nelson, both
carrying vast powers designed to
get from China some solid commit
ments for increased cooperation
with America in the war against
Japan.
The Associated Press is informed
that the commitments were given
virtually under threat of American
withdrawal of her support of Gen.
eralissimo Chang Kai-shek's gov
ernment.
Face-Saving Gesture.
In turn, the Associated Press was
informed, under circumstances
leaving no doubt as to its accuracy,
a last-minute softening in the
American attitude resulted in an
agreement for the withdrawal of
Gen. Stilwell as supreme COM
mander in the Obi theater as
face-saving and pacifying gesture
demanded by the generalissimo.
So large are official leaks" In
Chungking and other Chinese polit-
ical and military circles that major
portions of the story of this strange
shakeup in the war against Japan
| were known within hours after the
events occurred. AS related to the
Associated Press, Gen. Hurley and
Mr.. Nelson explained to Gen.
Chang that there was much dis
appointment over the failure of the
Central Government to come to an
agreement with the Communists in
the north so that both they and
the Central Government troops now
blockading them could be brought
against the Japanese in China.
Among the requests were:
First, that Chang should reor-
tganize his cabinet and eliminate re-
dictionary obstructionists and anti
foreign members.
Second, that an American general
be placed in command of Chinese
operations not only in Burma but
elsewhere in major operations
against the Japanese.
Terms Put Forcefully.
During early conversations it evi-
IDENTIFY was assumed on both sides
that Gen. Stilwell was to be Ameri-
can commander.
Gen. Stilwell was no party to the
negotiations, although he evidently
was kept informed on the major
steps.
The terms were put to Gen.
Chang very forcefully, in some in
stances backed by specific messages
from President Roosevelt. Some
stormy scenes followed. Gen. Chang,
as was expected, refused to dissolve
or reorganize his cabint, although
he accepted other conditions with
the tacit admission that some of
his commanders on the major fight
ing fronts in Central China were
not so hot.
Then came an odd change IN the
proceedings.
Gen. Chang himself became stub
born and it was discovered that
H. H. Kung, his finance minister.
visiting in the United States, was
telegraphing him that the President
was not supporting the stern posi-
ton taken by his two representa-
tives in Chungking. -..
Usually well informed sources.
whose reports the Associated Press
believes reliable, stated that Mr..
kung telegraphed Gen. Chang that
Harry Hopkins had informed him
that there was no cause for alarm
in the American attitude and that
If Gen. Chang would hold out de-
terminedly he would win all points,
Negotiators Backed Fully.
Learning of these reports. the
American negotiators evidently OBJ
tanned fiat statement from the
President in message that he was
not fooling and backed the nego-
tiators at that point fully.
AS their part in the bargaining,
the Americans had the power to
withhold lease-lend supplies and to
withdraw Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chen
nault and his United States 14th Air
Force from China.
Finally, an agreement was reached
which included among other things
that an American would be given
command of Chinese field forces,
1t was a large pill to swallow, but
In the interests of harmony all
around, Gen. Chang evidently
agreed at one stage to take it and
keep the war going at top speed.
He agreed to give Gen. Stilwell