Evening star., 1951-05-31
tcontinued From First Page.)

2 NOOhVaAAAIO E1OlA = IL Aob = dGCI
aid. But, monumental problems,
both military and economic, still
are ahead for the "Gissimo."
When the Nationalist Chinese
government took over Formosa in
1945. ending SO years of Japanese
rule, it began at once to make en-
emies. It sent as its first governor
Gen. Chen vi, a notoriously bad
administrator, and with him there
tagged along host of adventurers
and carpetbaggers.
Rebellion Put Down.
Discomfort among the Formos-
ans f1ared into revolt in February.
1947. It was suppressed, but thou
sands were killed and wounded.
Resentment burned in the For
mosan breast until last year, when
Chen vi. thrown out of the gov
ernship and accused Of trying to
deal with the Reds. was executed.
The FormoSans celebrated the
execution with fireworks.
Things began to turn for the
better then, although the threat
Of invasion remained. Chang took
over the presidency and appointed
his close friend, Chen Cheng, as
premier. II
Chen Cheng began a land re-
form program under which tenant
farmers rent was 37.5 per cent
Of the crop instead of the previous
80 per cent.
Princeton educated Dr.. K. c.
Wu became governor in December,
l949. With the help of American
EcA funds he kept, the economic
front from cracking. *sss
Facing New Test.
Now there is talk of NATIONAL
ist comeback with a big s'if'-ifI
It Is conducted by a tight, honest,
efncient program of freeing q
small part of the Chinese main
land from the Communists and
then, by the example of good
government and freedom, spread
ing 1t through China.
The Nationalists, from Chang
down. concede ineficiency and
corruption were among factors
which caused their downfall on
the mainland. They realize that
today they face test: New Amer
lean aid will be coming in. VIII
1t be used honestly and eff
GENTLY?
This is the Nationalist answer: !
They hope to make Formosa a /
model province model for the
mainland if it is recovered, as the
Nationalists are sure it will be. /
The cabinet has a planning board
which spends its time on blue
prints for future Nationalist rule
on the mainland.
Gen. Macarthur, addressing the
Joint session of Congress on his I
return to the United States. said
'the Formosan people are re-
eeiving a just and enlightened ad-
ministration with majority repre-
sentation in the organs of gov
ernment, and politically, econom-
ically and socially they appear tol
be advancing along sound. con-
etructive lines.
Elections Are Held.
The evidence indicates head
way has been made after the poor
start in 1945. Elections have been
held in many counties and cities
for posts of mayor and magi-I
strate. Many native born For-i
mosans. persons of Chinese
descent whose families were here
for generations, were elected.
There were some reports of ir-I
regularities, but the elections
gave the people more say in run
ming their affairs than ever before.
Vigorous campaigning by candi-
dates in recent elections, plus the
habit of voting instilled by the
Japanese. who forced turnout
for the one-slate elections, have
brought out a heavy vote.
The few Americans who have
been here two years say Formosa
etill has a one-party (Chiangl re-
gime. however, and more debate,
discussions and political differ
ences Of opinion will be necessary.
They say the recent municipal
elections gave encouraging signs
Of development of this phase of
democracy.
Emphasis on Democracy.
The talented and ebullient Dr.
WI, under whose governorship
much progress has been made.