Evening star., 1949-01-21

hind, almost leaderless, a group of
men who have ruled China for the
past % years. His own personal
influence has always overcome their
often bitter internal rivalries.
These still persist and center on
the issue OF peace itself.
Tk- diehards know they are on
the Communist war criminal list
after the generalissimo himself
therefore they are unable to con-
slider anything but bitter resistance
which would subject Marking to
long siege and might well collapse
in violence and looting.
Those who have been saving
Chiang's continued presence here
is the only real deterrent to peace
now have a chance to see how their
theory will work out.
Old Political Truck.
Actually, observers said, the half
way measure Of his flight today rep.
resents his oldest political trick
Many times in the past Chang has
walked out from scene of dis
agreement among his followers
never finally, formally quitting but
threatening to-and always his fol-
lowers have been forced to beg him
to return, often tearfully.
Just one thing is different now
That is the desperate set Of cir
Icumstances Of the Communist VIC
tory on the fields of civil war.
1t may not work this time, and
there is every possibility the gen.
eralissimo has walked out Of the
Kuomintang deadlock for the last
time.
One of his lieutenants, Vice Minis
ter of Information Tao Chi-Sheng
said earlier that Chang actually
had retired. But later, an official
government information announce
ment modified this.
Meets High Leaders.
During the day Chang met with
high military and political leaders
in the midst of official moves-in
which he had taken no visible part
to end the civil war.
First he talked with three top
members of the Kuomintang. his
Nationalist Party whose leadership
yesterday Endorsed statement by
the cabinet calling for an immediate
icease-fire and peace talks.
1t was presumed that he discussed
the cabinets peace offer with Sec
retary General WI Te-chem, Party
Member Chen Lien-feng and Huang
Shao-ku, Kuomintang Information
Minister.
Then the President went into con-
ference with Gen. Kwan Lin-chen
deputy commander in chief Of the
army, and Admiral Kwei Yung-
ching, commander of the Chinese
navy.
while the navy has little at
its command besides feet of
gunboats, it is charged with de-
Tending the broad Yangtze River,
which the Reds must cross to
get at Nanking.
There have been recent re-
ports that many units Of the
navy have moved to Formosa
along with headquarters unitsJ
This is the day for the beginning
of the mass movement Of govern
ment ministries to the south, main
ly to Canton. Included is the For
eign Ministry.
In North China. the details for
the surrender of Peiping appeared
to be worked out and awaited only
the Anal approval of Gen. Flu
Tso-yi, the commander in the north.
Associated Press Correspondent
Spencer Moosa wrote from Peipin2
that 1T is known this plan has
been accepted in principle for exc
cution by Saturday
Mr.. Moosa said the plan still
might be disrupted by government
generals there who distrust both
Flu and the Reds, or possibly by Flu
himself, who might prefer to wait
for a general peace worked out by
Marking.
| In brief, the plan calls for Fu
to give up Peiping and Kweisui, the
capital of Suiyuan Province in In
ner Mongolia, his old stamping
ground. In return he would be
removed from the Red war crimi.
nal" list.
/ More than 40 per cent of Sweden'i
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