Executive Committee will meet in Nanking to decide upon the date of the Fifth National Congress of the Kuomintang. The postponement already effected has been due to uncertainty over the attitude Jof the South-West Political Council delegates. Dr. Wang Chung-hui is credited with unwearying activities in the discovery of common ground for the reconcile~ ment of Canton's views with the needs of the Government at Nanking. I< would seem that the main point at issue, is whether the Kuomintang is to be directed by ithe South-West methods of qualification, or whether the Central Government's authority within the Party is to be effectively safeguarded. Broadly, the Kuomintang itself might suffer if the result were unduly favourable to Canton's apparent contentions. Yet, disregard of the South-West Political Council's general criticism Jof Nanking's policy, might breach the always precarious relations subsisting between the two autho tities, Of late, the talk of happier conditions governing those relations has been noticeable. Goodwill might well be invoked to develop that improvement. This is no model world and, unfortunately, China cannot. expect to be less affected than other countries by the stubbornness of ingrained animosities which often have their root in age-old racial differences. Looked at from this aspect, the problem before the [Kuomintang may be described as [presenting in modern form. the {traditional political antipathies of Chekiang and Canton. In spite of a strong Canton element, in the Government and in support of the Government, there is still a ten-Jdency to suggest that Canton's in-{terests have insufficient care in the dispositions of Nanking. The close liaison between General Chiang Kai-shek and General [Chen Chi-tang seems to begin and Jend in military matters. Its continuance depends on an extremely {tolerant attitude on Nanking's part toward the political individualism the South-West, General Chen Chi-tang, playing the role of the kindly interpreter.
'The situation has altered of late. Whereus, a year ago, the objections to General Chiang' Kaishek's personal ascendancy in the Government were emphatically
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.