Leader Proven to Be First Rank Statesman London, Nov, 24.
'A tribute {0 Gen, Chiang. Kal-shek was pald by Sir Frederick Leith-Ross, Chief Economic Adviser to the Bri: tish Government, in a speech devoted mainly to China' at a luncheon, given in his honour, by the Royal Empire Society to-day.
"Gen, Chiang." he declared, "has shown himself to be a statesman of the frst rank in handling the political situation. I believe that public opin-fon stands Armly behind the present Government, It has done an immense amount, in face of great dimeulties, without external help to reconstruct China after a long civil strife, "We may hope that the Government under Gen, Chiang will eontinue long enough to consolidate its administration ona stable basis and evolve a constitutional system. which wilt maintain stability in the future."
Sir Frederick declared that, when he left China in June, there were many prophets of gloom. "In fact," he proceeded, "alt has" gone well. Exchange has been maintained firmly and without" dimeulty; the Communists in Shangsi have been driven back to the mountains; the damage caused by smuggling has been cir cumseribed; and the danger of civil war in the southwest has been eli minated by agreement. The National Government Is now in full authority over the whole of China."
"Only if you cin make Journeys in Europe equal to those easily accom= Dilshable in China without passing districts where there are. signs of trouble," "Sir Frederick proceeded, can you say that China more disorderly state than Evrope,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.