Peking, June 1. Tt is expected that on the expiration of General Chin Yung-peng's second leave of absence on June 3 the President will grant ditional leave for 15 or 20 days. This manceuvre is only designed to gain time until it is seen how events shape themselves, for it is tolerably certain that General Chin will not return to the Cabinet office. Conditions are all against him, and no one recognizes this more than President Hsu Shih-chang himself.
Marshal Tuan Chi-jui, behind the scenes, is still the real force. His Wishes count for more than those of the President even, but of course' they have their limitations. Tuan Chi-jui is not in favour of a rapprochement with the Southwest. In fact, he would prefer to bring the Southern leaders under the authority of Peking by force of arms despite the fact that he failed in his previous attempt, and it is this thought of his that prevents the understanding being reached which everybody expected to culminate months ago. He it is who was responsible for the rejection of the offer to negotiate peace terms which came from Lu Yung-ting and his colleague. Neither the President's nor the Premier's views on the subject were permitted to influence the decision given by the Marshal. Such being the case, it! will be seen how impossible it is for the Premier to remain in office with Marshal Tuan Chi-jui conducting an active opposition from without.
Moreover, it is contrary to all Chinese thought and etiquette for! Chin Yung-peng, who owes his promotion to his several high offices to Tuan Chi-jui, to go against his patron, his teacher, his benefactor, and if Chin were to do it he would lose the respect of his friends and would in fact rouse sentiments hostile to himself which have not yet found expression. It goes without saying that President Hsu appredates the position as well as any one, and it may be taken for granted that he will not attempt t persuade the Premier to remain in an impossible position. That being 80, it follows that it is only a question of time before Chin Yung-peng is gracefully allowed to retire.
As no successor is visible at the moment it is likely that Admiral Sah Chen-ping will be induced to act as Premier for a little time until the Anfu Club make his position intolerable, After that—who can tell?
Peking. June 5.
mandate is being issued this afternoon, granting Chin Yung-peng' an additional 20 days' leave as 10 days is stated to be insufficient to give time for necessary rearrangements.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.