Evening star., 1947-08-11
By Robert s. Allen


wave of hostility Is series of charges against
r. v. Soong, brother of Nine. Chang Kai-shek,
and other relatives Of the generalissimo. They
are reputed to have more than $100, 900 900 in
cash deposited in United States, British and
Swiss banks.
soong, former finance minister, together
with H. v. Kung, former premier and another
Chang Kai-shek brother -in-law, head nearly
score Of corporations and enterprises that
monopolize the bulk Of the Chinese import
business. Some Of these organizations are
semiomcial, and have what amounts to
virtual monopoly in their field.
Illustrative of the way the Soongs and Kungs
operate is a report recently received by the
Commerce Department. While the Chinese
Nationalist government was refusing credits
for the purchase Of machine tools urgently
needed to rehabilitate Chinese factories
Chang Kai-sheks in-laws obtained 100000 in
foreign currency to buy cosmetics-whose i'm
portation Is strictly prohibited under an emer-
gency economic decree
The volume Of outcries against favoritism and
currency manipulation by these family Arms
recently became so pronounced that the ma
tionalist board of temporary regulation Of i'm
ports finally was compelled to take notice Of
the situation. After solemn deliberation the
board issued this remarkable statement: while
not unaware that certain persons are resorting
to uAethical methods, the board wishes to dis
associate itself from such practices"
Armies Live OF Land.
War Department authorities estimate that
the Nationalist regime has more than 5000, 900
men in its so-called armies. However, it was
stated less than one-fifth Of this huge military
force Is actually engaged in anti Communist
lighting. The remainder, 1t was declared, are
hundreds Of mites from the battle froutG The
great bulk Of these troops are under numerous
local war lords who. while giving lip service
to the Nationalist government, actually are
Independent rulers. They and their armies live
OIL the land robbing the peasants and mulcting
what industry and business exists in their
areas.
An illustration of the parasitic character of
many of these so-called Nationalist armies is
the one now astride Shanghai Comprising over
100000 men, this army is leyying tribute on
every bushel of rice entering Shanghai.
Other large armies, 1t is reported, are located
between practically all the key production
areas In the interior and the consuming CEN
ters on the coast. Civilian agencies have no
authority over these lawless military hordes,
and the police are powerless to halt their
depredations.
As result Of widespread official impotence
and military pillage not only is the central
government unable to enforce the numerous
regulations it is constantly promulgating, but
vast quantities of food and other supplies from
the United States have been stolen, damaged
and wasted.
Typical of this looting and spoilage is what
happened to large quantities Of UNRRA sup
plies. Over $500 000, 900 worth of food, equip
ment and other goods were shipped to China
UNRRA authorities estimate that less than Is
per cent Of this relief has reached the interior
of China, where 1t is most desperately needed.
The remainder was lost through spoilage,
looting and mishandling
Confronted with such conditions, authorities
here frankly admit grave perplexity over a
solution Of the Chinese problem.
On the one hand, 1t is urgently necessary to
stabilize conditions there On the other, the
nationalist government as currently constituted
offers little prospects for effecting such stabil-
ity. The dilemma is one of the most difficult
and ominous facing the United States, yet some
answer must be found If the aggressive march
Of communism Is to be halted in the Far East
North American Newspaper Allianee.o