The inauguration of the new Central Govern ment of China took place on Mar. 28 at Nanking, land, in the course of the ceremonies, there appeared men who have been in political abeyance for some years past. Some of those Jwho are assisting in the formation of @ new Government under Japanese auspices are JGoubtedly doing so because of a very natural desire to come back into the limelight from [which they were banished when the Nationalist [Government secured control of the whole of [China Thus in this area as well as in North [China, men of the Anfu clique are emerging from the obscurity in which they have dwelt for the last eleven years or so. Such men were Inever heart and soul with the Nationalist Government, and now an opportunity has been Jgiven them' to reassert themselves, and it [but natural that they should take advantage of it. There should, however, be no mirunderstanding about the character of this new government: it is of purely Japanese creation. [For that reason the message sent to the new government by General Shunroku Hats, Com-Imander-in-chief of the Japanese Expeditionary [Force in Central China will be read with no ttle interest and a degree of cynicism. The [Army i stated to be glad the New Government makes sts national principle the maintenance lof intimate relations and ce-operation between Chine and Japan." Of course it does. It would not be allowed to exist in Japanese controlled territory if it did anything else, and it must Inever be forgotten that this new government which thas been inaugurated with such em-prosement in Nanking is a creature of the Invading forees. That Is not to say that sooner lor later some sort of civilian government would not have become necessary, or that Chinese should not take part in if. It ts obviously necessary in the interests of those Chinese who sul remain in this extensive region of the "scorched earth" that they should have some-lone to stand between them and the Japanese Army. Such a government may not be able to do any more, if as much, as the Manchoukuo Government. is able to do vis-clevis of its Japanese advisers there. Its diticulties will be increased by the sullen rage of the people who, Ihave suffered the heaviness of Japan's military hand, who have been rendered destitute by the shocking warfare which it has- been said [directed not against the Chinese people for [whom the Japanese claim to have a deep affection, but against a recalcitrant Nationalist Government which will not behave. The new Central China Government will have all its [work cut out to secure the confidence of the people over whom it has been set. It will be faced with the enormous task of establishing Jan efficient administration throughout the large area over which It has assumed juricdietion, [subject at all times to the domination of Japan. Eventually the Japanese look forward to its lunifteation with' the government already established in Peiping. Mr. Liang Hung-chih, president of the new Executive Yuan, in' his manifesto looks forward to the amalgamation lof the two governments as soon as communica tions with north have been effected. The ques will then arise as to which will absorb the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.