Chiang Kai-shek Hands In His Resignation

Chronicle (Levin), 22 January 1949, Page 5

Chiang Kai-shek Hands In His Resignation

NANKING, Jan. 21. Chiang Kai-shek resigned and left by" plane this morning i.or Penghua, his native town, state Ageney reports. Tne i'hinese Vice-AIini'ster of Information said Vice-President Li Tsung Jen would succeed Chiang. i The Associated Press correspondent reports that a Cabinet shakeup is ex- ( pected immediately with Chang Chih Chung, leader of the peace move, likely to be named as Premier. Peiping's hopes of a separate nego--tiated peace had almost faded last night, according to Reuter despatches ; reaching Xapking. Reliable sources i said the negotiations *had broken down over the Communists ' demand that General Fu Tso Yi's.troops Iirst lay down their arms bet'ore the ceasefire. Chiang Kai-shek appealed for continued lugh uiorale and -devotion to duty from] ihe Xavy last night when he summoned senior officers to his mansion. He praised thb ^\aA*y's work in the entire ■anipaign, adding that theA' still had a cery heavy responsibility. Chiang said ue u ould uot have an opportunity ro •ev.iew the Xavy this year. The pro-Communist Hong Kong uewspaper Kwa Shiang Pai published a Nauking despatch stating that the Cnited Kingdom Government would_ recognise the Communist-dominated Coi'ernment .when it was set up. The Xanking pap°r claimed that information to this effect had been received I'l'om London by diplomatie quarters in Xanking.