At the State Council meeting of ithe National Government this Imorning, it was decided to accept ithe resignation of General Shang: (Cheng and to appoint General Hsu lyring-chang to be Chairman of the Shansi Provincial Government, Although it was believed for: sometime that it would be impossible for General Shang Cheng to return to his post, to-day's decision iwas a surprise. It will be recalled that at the time of the Shih Vu-san uprising, "General Shang Cheng, former Chairman of Shansi Provin-Jcial Government and loyal to the (Central Government, moved his troops from Shansi towards Shihchiachuang to cut off the retreat of Jthe rebel forces and to ce-operate Iwith the other Government units Iwhich were fighting along the [Peking-Hankow Railway against the rebels. In the meantime, other Shansi generals took advantage of General" Shane's absence from JShansi and called a niass meeting Ishang Cheng be removed and that [General Hsu Yung-chang be inted Chairman of Shansi Pruvin-Government. General Shang Shansi and hes been in Peking Members of the Southern Government and the different Kuomintany organs are talking a great deal about local autonomy, which it is said, is th be introduced throughout Kuangtung and Kuangsi in a very short time.
These leaders take the stand that during the present period of political tutelage it is possible to put into force autonomy for the humorous districts or hsiens in the two southern provinces and that the Government will assist the people far as possible in exercising their democratic rights on the ground that self-government was one of the main planks of the Into Dr. Sun Yat-sen's political scheme.
Messrs. Sun Fo and Wang Ching-mber of the Southern Gov- [Re have made several state-the necessity of early enforcement, of district autonomy, which in. their opinion is a sure cure of Communism. This point is memorial service and in articles in the Leader," the weekly ori so-called Central Kuomi
say, it is necessary for the peop!
China is 9 republic, they to have a voice in their Government, otherwise the country" is under a dictatorship.
The local leaders maintain that if the people in the districts or hsiens are given self-government, they will ran the local administra: tion in the way they want with a majority rule. When the people are given the opportunity to express their will, their material welfare will be safeguarded, hence they will not lend u willing ear to the Communist agitators.
Tt is pointed out ignorant farmers and peas the Communists because they have a grievance against the local government or officials or because they have no way to make a living. However, in a district or county. where autonomy is really enforced Tivelihood will be imthey will be freed from ion by officialdom, local rufid unscrupulous gentry.
Officials are of o that while force is necessary to wipe out the Communist-bandiis, it is also neces sary to better the' living condit the masses so that they will not fugment the rank and file of the Red army. Therefore the adoption local autonomy means, according to local officials, the carrying out of Dr. Sun Yat-en's teachings the prevention of increasing the Communist elements in the country.
Provisions concerning local autonomy have been drafted and passed by the Government and the regulations may be put into force this week, Officials to. supervise this new system are going through tensive training and will be despatched to the different districts before August 15 to explain to the masses the new move—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.