As I drove Into Sian on the atter-noon of Thursday, May 27, I was surprised to sce that the whole city was gaily bedecked with flags. T could" not call to mind any national holiday, and for one flecting moment T imagined that these decorations must_be in my honour. Of this altering idea T was at once disabused by the amazing fact that for the rst time In hisory—at any rate Inmy history—1 was allowed to enter Sian without being called upon to show my passport or even a visiting-card, was obvious that in the general joy over some particularly auspicious event my entry had escaped notice. Nor judging from the cheerful smile ing faces and general alt of contentment should T have ever guessed at the reason for these decorations.
The truth was that the city of Sian was celebrating—if that is the correct word—the departure of Gen. Yang Hu-chen for the United States where, T understand, he will make a study of social and political condi~ tions, In fact, they were, as the 8 saying Is, speeding the parting guest. 'The Pacification Commissioner oF Bandit Suppression "Commissioner—1 forget which particular functions he was holding, and I do not suppose history will' call me to account for this—has been sick for several weeks prior to his departure.
Although one of, his followers, Gen, Sun Ju-yi is Chairman of the Province, the real control of Sian and the southern part of Shenst is ow In the hands of the Central Government through their military com-
Jon behind the scenes between representatives of the Central Governnient and the Red leaders. People in [Sian were hopeful that some working arrangement would be arrived at, though the great stumbling-block, T was given. to understand, - was ihe question of cancelling the name Chi-hose Soviet Republic.
One of the minor evils "of the presence of the Reds in this province is the suspicion with which all for~ jeign visitors are regarded and the strict eyo that is kept on thelt slightest movements, T hasten to add that T personally was not troubled in this' way: in the frst place T had Jo. proper visa, in the second I was known to some of the local officials from previous visits, and In the third place they soon discovered to their cost, from the way I bored them with the' subject, that all my—thoughts were taken'up with the problem of /HOw to-get out of the province eastwards (and not northwards).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.