Evening star., 1949-04-09
Reds Pledge Leniency
In Chinese Peace, but
0pen Fresh Offensive.
BY the Lssocioted Press

NANh1NJ, April S.-INlna Top
Communist tonight promised a
'lenient settlement" of the Chi
nese civil war. But the Reds
backed up their peace demands
with new assaults against Ma
tionalist bridgeheads north Of the
Yangtze River on a 650-mile front.
Mao Tze-tung insisted, however,
that the Communists original
eight demands be the basis for
the peace agreement. In their
original form these demands would
amount to complete Nationalist
capitulation.
The Communist leader, in a
Chinese language broadcast over
the Red radio at Peiping, did not
indicate how far he would be will
ing to stretch his eight demands
to reach "lenient settlement"
Mao did say, however, that
Communist leniency would be pre-
dicated on whatever is considered
most beneficial to the achievement
of peace.
Cites Acceptance of 8 Points.
Replying to message from the
Nationalists' acting President. Ii
Tsung- -jen, the No. Red said he
sees no obstacle to a peace agree
ment since the Marking govern
ment has accepted his eight points
as the basis for opening negotia-
tions in Peiping.
Ii telegraphed Mao yesterday a
dramatic offer to be burned in
oil" If that would help achieve
peace. He expressed his deter
mination to sacrifice myself to
overcome the most difficult OBJ
stacle in the peace talks"
The acting President was re-
ferring to the Red demand for
surrender of Nationalist war
criminals" On this crucial point
Mao was adamant today that it
also be settled in accordance with
his original eight demands.
Exactly how the Red chief
tains promise of leniency would
At in here was not clear. One
of the eight demands has been
for the government to turn
over all those on the war
criminals" list, including Chi
ang Kai-shek)
Mao concluded by declaring the
Communists willingness to join
with all patriotic and democratic
Chinese for attainment Of peace.
Reds Hammer at Positions.
Red troops hammered at re-
manning government positions
north of the Yangtze in wide
scale operation which military OBJ
servers say is setting the stage for
major assaults across the river
into South China.
With the heat on militarily, the
governments peace delegation re-
sumed negotiations in Peiping.
But they were mostly marking
time while top Nationalist officials
assembled in Marking for crucial
decision.
The Nanking meeting was to
frame the final government reply
to Communist demands for virtual
surrender.
On the far-fiung fighting front.
the government admitted the loss
of Icheng. important ferry land
ing town % miles northeast Of
Nanking. The Reds unleashed
attacks on other smaller bridge
heads on the north bank opposite
the nervous Nationalist capital It
self.
The official military news
agency reported new Communist
attacks on bridgeheads fronting
on the Yangtze opposite Wulu, so
miles uprlver from Nanking. Mill
tary observers believe the first
main Red drive across the river
may be made there.
Tuesday Is Deadline.
The spotlight on the peace front
definitely had shifted for the mo-
ment from Peiping to Nanking.
The meeting of high government
leaders in the Nationalist capital
must make its momentous deci-
sion before its representatives at
Peiping can talk with the Reds.
The Communists demand the
governments answer by Tuesday.
Semioficial sources said the
Reds agreed yesterday to revise
an ultimatum which called for
the transfer of all government
armies to the Communists by
Tuesday.
The Red demand now stipulates