Wu Pei-fu Mystery One of the mysteries of Japan's state-making efforts in China continues to revolve around Marshal Wu Pel-fu, the former Chibli wa lord. For ten years or more he has been in retirement in Peiping, devoting himself to poetry and philosophy after his elimination [from the political scene and would have dis Jappeared into the realm of the forgotten had not the Japanese authorities earmarked him for an important post in the proposed Federal Government. Since the Japanese commenced creating local regimes to assume administrative functions in various areas formerly administered the Nationalist Government, they have been hard set to recruit Chinese of sum cient prestige Jand influence for the key positions because what racial esteem has done to reduce the number of willing eligibles, terrorist, attacks have Jalmost completed the task of reluctance. Marshal [Wu was reported to have accepted the Japanese foffer to head the new Government but it became known that he was subject (o severe [Japanese pressure exercised chiefly on wiem~ libers of his household, and his failure to respond immediately to these Japanese approaches. is, [quite comprehensible. Japanese sources a few Jdays ago claimed that he had agreed to head a new pacification commission with headquarters fat Kaifeng. This is far removed from the idea lof a Federal Government but was accepted as Ja_signal for his emergence from retirement to head a Japanese regime aimed at advocating peace. His telegram of aeceptance—if it can be interpreted as such—had that familiar ring, Jof the Chinese scholar hiding his opinions in Jo mass of mellifluous phrases typical of a man' }who would like to give o denial but is unable to do 0." If we want to preserve our strength for a struggle that is yet to come, the elder brother should not tyrannize over the young" is one remark which is worthy of examination Jand is capable of dual interpretations. The atest Peiping reports emphasize this absence lof haste to declare a definite intention, "and although It is reported that an offer of $1,000,000 has been made to him to reorganize his former troops, opinion inclines to the fact that he is still stalling and as not committed himself jone way or the other. There is no doubt that there has been a serious hitch in the Federal JGovernment plans, and it will need alli the persuasiveness of the Japanese, through bribes Jor overt threats, to win him river for he still enjoys a great measure of trust and confidence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.