Evening star., 1945-03-04

sumed from what has come out later
that the Russian Premier denied any
link between Russia and the Chinese
Communists. According to statements
by high-ranking officials of the State
Department, the United States Govern
ment is now fully satisfied that there
is no connection whatsoever between
the Yenan people and the Kremlin al
though it is admitted that the majority
of the Chinese Communist leaders are
Moscow trained and educated
In order to bring about an UNDER
standing between the two Chinese fac
tions, President Roosevelt sent the then
| Vice President Wallace to visit Chung
king. Mr.. Wallace went to Chungkfng
via Siberia and arrived in Chiang's war
capital by the back door" from Yenan,
| explaining that this was sure to be the
main entrance to China in the future
| since this back door opens toward the
| U. S. S. r.
The former Vice President had some
| long and interesting conversations with
the generalissimo, who told him that he
was not opposed to reaching an agree
ment with his rivals provided they stuck
! to their agreements. But he added that
| every time he offers his hand to the
| Communists in Yenan they ask for his
whole arm, and should he grant that
request they would eventually ask for
| the entire body.
Under these circumstances, 1t was
| difiicult for Chang to reach lasting
| agreement lest he resign himself to
handing over the whole government to
| the Chinese Communists and accept a
minor role in the government for him.
self and his followers. This, he added,
would be contrary not only to the in
terests he has been fighting for since
1896 but also to the interests of the
United States.
Discussions Failed.
Nevertheless, Chang agreed to enter
into discussions with his rivals. They
came to naught. The original demands
presented to Chang from Yenan were
increased when the Communists began
the conferences at Chungking.
The American military and diplomatic
setup eventually was changed and Gen.
Joseph w Stilwell-an excellent soldier,
but poor diplomat to handle Chang
was replaced by the smooth and equally
| able 1t. Gen. Albert c. Wedemeyer.
| Ambassador Gauss was replaced by the
| energetic and hkable trouble-shooter,
! Mai Gen. Patrick Hurley. Both Gen.
| Wedemeyer and Gen. Hurley get along
| much better with Chang than their
/ predecessors.
| In order to comply with the. pressing
requests from Washington that another
| attempt be made to come to terms with
the Yenan group, Chang renewed his
! negotiations with the Communists who
sent Gen. Chou En-lai to Chmgking.
The parleys lasted two weeks and Chang
made extensive concessions. He declared
himself prepared to recognize the Chi
nese Communists as a lawful political
party. Heretofore. the generalissimo, fol-
lowing the example of the Amrican Gov
ernment, had outlawed all Communistic
activities in China.
| He agreed to include high-ranking
| Communist official in the national mill
| tary council. He also agreed to include
! Communist representatives with those
of other political parties in the Execu-
! tive Yuan in order to create wartime
! cabinet. He suggested the establishment
| of committee of three to discuss the
reorganization of the Communist army
! and the question of supplies. The
Chungking and Yenan representatives
were to have equal status on this COM
! mittee, which, Chang suggested should
be presided over by an American Army
| officer.
| Offers Turned Down.
The Communists left Chungking dis
satisfied They turned down these offers
and presented counterproposals, de-
manding the complete reorganization of
the government to include Communists
in key positions, and unified command
with the Communist generals holding
equal power with the Koumintang gen.
erals. In somewhat pugnacious state
ment, Gen Chou said the dictatorship
Of the Koumintang must disappear be-
fore the Yenan people could come to
terms with Chungking.
| Chang is said to have refused to
consider these counterproposals, not so
much because there was no basis for an
agreement, but because he felt that
whatever concessions he might be will
ing to make in the future will not bs
sufficient and as soon as one hurdle is
taken he will be presented with other
demands.
| But while he is confident that even-
tually he can straighten out the Com
munist situation, he feels that the criti-
cism directed at him from quarters close
to the administration in Washington il
unjustif1ed and is weakening his own
bargaining position. He firmly believes
he has acted Loyalty in the cause of the
United Nations and makes no secret Of
his fear that the Chungking govern
ment in the future may share the same
fate as that of the Poles in London,
Aid for Czechs
The first Czechoslovakian medical ex-