The Japanese, too, are visibly becoming more and more nervous. They aver that "were Marshal Chang to permit himself to be elected President, the prospects of Manchuria would not be improved in any way but would go from bad to worse." How the Marshal could lever expect to cope with his dual position—as President of the Chinese Republic and as the chief executive of his own territory,—would be a very intriente matter indeed, argues Jo Japanese military officer of high standing. Apart from the question of financial difficulties, this officer says, the Marshal would simply endanger his line of communications for there would be nothing to pre-]vent a portion of his army being in-Jduced to change its allegiance. One. Jean very well understand this ner-]vousness on the part of the Japanese when one takes into consideration jthe millions and millions they have unvested in Manchuria, but the fact Jremains that opinion is almost general that it would be suicidal for the Marshal to allow himself to be jelected President. Some of the forjeign critics are quite caustic. According to them, "this movement for the assumption of the presidency Jby the Marshal is being largely on-[couraged by his advisors most of, may not be an untruth but it is in Jany case the sum total of the average foreigner's opinion.
The Marshal's Own Statement In the meanwhile, let us quote what the Marshal himself said _on the eve of his departure, for, after all, he is the one best suited to Jspeak on this all absorbing mat-going to the capital not for the. purpose of secking" president pomination or election, Iam. going there to take a complete survey of the tion at presence prevailing, political, military: and general I have, the terete of the" nation at heart. "fam Assuredly, the present military' situation is' worrying the Marshal. He had calculated on Sun Chuan-
Hfang's completely routing the Can-from the rear and Wu Pei-ability to "come back" in good time, but his calculations had not! matured as he had hoped. It is, therefore, quite probable that his trip to the capital is to put more life into the campaign against the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.