July 25. ug Kai-shek, in riling, is reviewing the situation in the North ind, it is believed, the progress lof the campaign' against. the Communists in South. Kiangsi The Conference is in fact more military than political although: it is obvious that circumstances necessarily bring politics under notice, Mr. Wang Ching-wei has aid a short visit to his colleague lat Kuling but it is stated to be Imere coincidence that that vi lsynchronises with the Conerence. The situation in the North is in some degree of most urgent concern. However fanftastic may be Marshal Feng Vu-hsiang's development of his animosity against Nanking in the guise of a patriotic fervour defiant of the Japanese, it can be awkward for the Central Government. If the authorities lat Peking were to move their troops in actual array against Marshal Feng Vu-hsiang the resultant clash led—to the dissipation of the Marshal's be forces, the danger of the influx: lof defeated soldiery into Manchoukuo would no doubt stimu-cai late the Japanese General Staff to one more of its essays in the fort of forestalling trouble. The. Chinese Government has' been reluctant to proceed to extremes waist Marshal Feng pai in recognition of this possibility. land partly with a desire to give [Canton as little material as possible for further circular letters. If, therefore, the Peking message correct in ascribing to!¢ Marshal Feng Vu-hsiang a readiness to retrace his steps General Chiang Kai-shek and his colleagues will probably be relieved. They are not likely to find much difficulty in agreeing to a formula which can settle the Charhar issue and at the same time provide for due consideration of the special niche secured by the Marshal in the gallery of China's modern notabilities. It may also surmised that the authorities lat Tokyo will welcome any settlement which, for the time Hueing at any rate, enables them to set a limit to the commitments lof their actively-engaged forces. During the next few months, the energy required in coping with the bandits of Manchoukuo will tax the resources of the Japanese troops as fully as the Government may desire. Fortunately therefore has Moscow come to Tokyo's rescue with a prompt. jand convincing denial of the alarmist report concerning the appearance of Russian troops in Outer Mongolia.
Looking in the other direction General Chiang Kai-shek and his colleagues in conference cannot be quite so complaisant about! Canton, There the most open flouting of the Central Government persists. The definite en-Jcouragement of smuggling to the detriment of the revenues is matched by frequently bombast tic announcements—defiantly Government. Canton jeriticising the policy of the
confined this exhibition of its spleen to domestic channels. It will be recalled that it has on more than one occasion lately addressed the world at large with the object of dissociating itself from the Government at Nanking and, apparently, of emphasising the correctness of. ithe view which in the mouths of China's enemies takes the form of declaring that China is hardly more than a not too accurate geographical expression. The Government at Nanking has declared a policy of tolerance.
surely has the right to ask Canton to speak out and say' exactly what is wanted to fulfil the requirements of the Southwest Political Council's notion lof regional autonomy. There li jo good deal of loose talk about: the solidarity of the South-west Provinces but it would really' be interesting to know whether! Kwantung would view with equanimity the possibility of having to carry Fukien and Kwangsi in a federation apart from Nanking. It was recently estimated in Canton that if any lovett military action were attempted against the Central Government a monthly deficit of }$1,000,000 would immediately Present itself in the loss of [appropriations from the Central Treasury. Nor is it quite that Fukien and Kwangsi sufficiently in tune to make jo Jaction in the field readily obtain-fable. In Canton too there certain public opinion which, besides being against civil war in principle, takes the practical view that under the present system Canton gets its own wa: in nearly every respect, has its Jown forces, can develop its own aviation ambitions, can concen-{trate on its various improvement. schemes atid, softly be it said, jean smuggle' to its heart's content. So it should not too. violently challenge the dignity lof the Central Government. This practical view may in some measure, inspire General Chen Chitang's astute moderation. Full expression to it is only prevented by the need for humour ing the literary genius latent among certain leading and thighly individualistic members lof the South-west Council.
General Chiang Kai-shek, in cussing matters with "his Visitors to Kuling, will probably josed to examine the military situation more closely than the political idiosyncrasies of inten. Not that the General disdainful of political considerations. No-one studying the events of the last two or three years can deny to him a political acumen of high merit. The immediate problem, as it Jappears at moment, however, the clearing up in South Kiangsi last year General Chiang Kai-shek was able to deal the communist armies a shrewd blow on the Middle Yangtze. If, with the help of the forces under: General Chen Chi-tang, he can completely remove from South Kiangsi the reproach of being under Red dominance he will have gone far in solution of the bandit-communist problem central China, It cannot be said that the position is altogether clear for it would seem that the requisite ce-ordination. between the forces from Canton and the troops under the direct lorders of the Central Government has still to be established. Perhaps this is a point on which General Chiang may be giving hhis subordinate commanders da-finite instructions. On the major issue of the Government's policy toward Japan it is probable that the Kuling Conference /will have less bearing than the conversations between the Generalissimo and Mr. 1 Ching-wei. It is reasonable fo deduce from recent hi Penings that a rapprochement with Japan will sooner or later Ihave a definite place in the Gov-Jernment's programme. Even Canton's apparent hostility to such rapprochement seems to be dictated more by the personal animosity of certain prominent Canton leaders against General Chiang Kai-shek than any real belief in the wisdom of continu-jing to irritate the Japanese. The Government may possibly defer conerete decisions in this regard until the return of Mr. 7. V. Soong whose attitude in the light of the Tangku Truce and sub: quent events has to be ascertain-led. "Mr. Soong's tour in America land Europe has been of great importance and the Government may be excused if it considers that information from him is essential before its foreign policy hho taken into review. Both General Chiang Kai-shek and Mr. Wang Ching-wei, in the face of much misrepresentation and deliberately created odium, have endeavoured to face realities jand, in consequence, to do nothing calculated to' prejudice ultimately friendly relations with Japan, They may be inclined, however, to feel that further movement in that direction will more easily and more secure-developed when they have had ithe advantage of hearing Mr. Soong's views on the general situation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.