Yesterday the North ina Daily News published a despatch from, Mukden dealing at length with the attitude of Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang towards che recent developments in the north, The most striking passage in the despatch was the clear statement, of the Young Marshal's view that there is no likelihood of a better government being formed than that now established in Nanking, which, in spite of vicissitudes, is the recognized Government of China. Taken in connection with the unequivocal declaration by. the Young Marshal, who was about to take part in the important Manchurian Conference, of his earnest desire for an early peace, this trend of argument should be carefully studied by the leaders who are endeavouring to buoy themselves up with the thought that they can indefinitely form special enclave with Peking as the centre. While making all al-Jowances for the fact that, afte: five months' campaigning, the North have to a large extent held their own, the present position cannot be said to justify the emption that General Yen shan's newly-formed State Council will be any more permanent as a factor in Chinese administration than similar improvisations of the last ten years or more. Critical observers hold that the two factors in prolong. ing the present campaign are the relentless hostility of General Feng Vu-hsiang towards the leaders of the Nanking Government and the firm conviction on the part of General Chiang Kaishek that victory in the field can be obtained within a reasonable period of time. On the temperament and outlook of General Feng Vu-hsiang there is little need to dilate. His record has all along been that of a military Jeader possessed of no small ability, but largely devoid of Political capacity or constructive statesmanship. General Chiang Kai-shek, as the responsible head a duly-recognized Government, cannot be so dismissed. Moreover, he can quite logically point to definite military achlevdvents and to his possession of the power given by big battalions and superior resources, If the reports from Nanking are correct, he is preparing to deliver what intended to be a knockout blow on the Northern forces at Kaifeng. Whether ne will succeed in thus rolling up the forces of General Feng Ya-hsiang remains to be seen. But even if he did, it may be doubt whether it would carry him very much further. At the best it would give him the right to adhere. to'—his reported reluctance' to listen to the counsels of "peace gradually gathering strength in his own Correspondehée'in the "North-China Daily News" has made 1: very clear that amid all the clash of personal likes and dislikes, there is a uniform desire for the termination. of, the. present civil swat. No.sentiment, is, 30, strongly ehoed among... responsible Chinese thinkers." than that! attributed yesterday to the Young Marshal in his assertion [that he wanted an early restoration of peace. Feelers have been thrown out with the idea of inducing Mukden to throw its weight on one or other of the two sides in this senseless struggle, On Saturday the position of the Young Marshal was analyzed in these columns, and it was pointed out that the only role that he was likely to adopt would be that of mediator. The time plainly has come for him to decide whether he can dept this role and yet preserve is freedom to discharge his primary duty as the preserver of Manchuria's solidarity. It perhaps would be difficult for either General Yen Hsi-shan or the Nanking Government to put forward a formal request for' mediation at the hands of the: Mukden chieftain, The Northern coalition would be handicapped to some extent by the failure of recent efforts to induce th2 Young Marshal to throw definitely on the side yeated Government. Tue Nanking Government might conceivable find it difficult to overlook the point that theoretically the Young Marshal is associate! with them, There is, however, little doubt that on both sides the intervention of a peacemaker would be warmly welcomed, and the difficulties to which attention ix now drawn might be avoided if the Manchurian Conference its own volition could tender iis good offices equally to both parties with the view of solving the issues which prevent the termination of military opera: tions. If the adventure of reconciliation were launched this way, neither of the two parties would lose prestige, and the Young Marshal—himsetf would in no way be surrendering his well-conceived policy aloofness from party differences. It is admitted that he cannot be indifferent to the tribulation through which China is passing, accentuated as it is by the impasse arising out of the civ war. It would therefore be 'n complete accordance with the interests of Manchuria, and prob. ably, if not certainly, the wishes of China asa whole, if he could simultaneously advise Peking and Nanking of his readiness t9, act as an arbiter. It would be a dramatic stroke of statesmanship and patriotic foresight. It would also appeal to the best minds ow either side. There has been much recrimination and inter change of personalities in the wordy controversies surrounding the present struggle in the field. This arid pursuit has done little to facilitate a peaceful solution. It has exasperated men who have the interest of China is desirable that China should have confidence in the men who, whether by their own. deserts or by the whim of fortune, have been placed at the head of affairs. An offer to mediate would relegate thes unsatisfying polemics to their proper-obscurity, It would bring on to the plane of reasoned argument the chief and. vital' considerations of the moment—the extrication of China from a night-mare which is only tolerable by contemplation of the far grimmer possibilities head.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.