Evening star., 1948-11-25
South-C Chinese
Hankering for Peace,
Even Under Red Rule
By Albert Rovenholt
Foreign Correspondent Of The Stor and
the CHICAGO Daily News

the Chicago Dolly News
CHANGSHA, Human Province,
Nov. 25.-As far as most of the ordi-
nary people in South Central China
are concerned, the personal govern
ment of Chang Kai-shek is about
finished.
These people want peace. If they
have to get it under the Commu-
nists they are prepared to take it
that way. Most of them don't well
come the possibility. But they see it
as the better of two evils-con-
tinued hopeless fighting under an
impossible government" or peace
with a chance for some normal
living.
In trip through the four prov
inces Of Kiangsu, Chekiang, Kiangsi
and Human, found one question
being asked everywhere: When
will the Communists Gomez"
Outside Of the official and semi
official groups the feeling toward
the present Nanking government
can best be described as disgust"
These men were not formerly SYM
pathetic to the Communists. Many
OF them are the bankers, business
men, teachers and doctors who
formed the backbone of the resis-
tance to Japan.
found once loyal supporters of
the generalissimo now trimming
their political sails Some office
holders are wondering which of their
friends have connections with the
chairman of the Chinese Commun-
list Party, Mao Tze-tung. Others
are letting it be known discreetly
they never really opposed working
with the Chinese Communists. Ap-
parently, only the few at the very
top are preparing to run.
The reasons for this loss of faith
In Chang Kai-sheks leadership
vary with each man you ask. But
one thing is clear-the generalisslno
Is no longer the popular hero he once
was to many of these people.
Markings unrealistic economic
laws brought much legitimate busi-
ness to standStill and alienated
large groups. One merchant assured
me he had heard from his relatives
in Communist areas and he was con-
vlnced business opportunities there
were at least as good as under the
Nationalist.
One of the most demoralizing
factors has been the reported good
treatment the Communists give to
families of soldiers in the Red Army.
Both soldiers and officers of the
generalissimo's army told me the
same story: You know, the Red SOL
diers have it very good. The Com
munists give their families rice ana
help them work the land"
On paper the Nationalists have a
pension plan for their troops. But
like so many of the weli-intentioned
laws of the Central Government it
is most frequently not put into
practice.
Another demoralizing factor has
been the Nationalist failure to give
the people straight news. AS one
official remarked. When Central
News-the government news agency
reports city is safe We know it
either has fallen or is about to
fall"
In the countryside, opposition to
the government is less vocal but
in some ways more serious There
are large areas of good land in
these normally rich rice producing
provinces that are not being fcrmed
this year. The peasants who own
or rent the land have run away to
avoid conscription. Some have
swollen the refugee populations of
cities like Shanghai Others are
hiding in the hills and living as
bandits.
The general attitude toward the
future in these areas was summed
up by one high-place Chinese Of
fetal who must remain unnamed.
He said:
IF the Red leader, Mao-Tze- -tung,
would go easy on his talk about
Communism, he could have the
rest of the country in a month"