Saddest 48 Hours Follows President's Retirement

Chronicle (Levin), 25 January 1949, Page 5

Saddest 48 Hours Follows President's Retirement

- press Assoctatiorj

(Pei

NANKING, Jan. 23. The capital awoke today to learn that the Government stood on tlie verge of capitul'ation to the Ooinnnmists and that the end of China's long civil war Avas in sight. ' Within twenty-four hours of Presi dent Ohaing's sudden retirement, Peip ing surreudered, the acting President Li Tsung-jen, agread to tallc peace 011 the Communist terms, and the Cabinei side-stepped the unconditionad ceasefire appeal and appointed a five-man peace delegation. Kuomintang leaders in Nanking who are on the Compiunists ' war crinnnaL list are packing today to foIloAV Chiang Ivai-shek into possihle exile. Mean while, Communist spearheads are re ported to have taken up positions only 15 niiles north-east of Nanking. Theii rapid south ward lunge threw tlie Gov ernment retreat south to the Yangtzc River into disorder. The capital a^vaited calnily hui anxiously for the Comjnunist reaetion to what observers called the saddest and most calainitous 48 hours in tio* Kuomintang 's 38-year history. Few members of the Kuomintang are hope fui about the outcoine of tlie negotia tions. With the Commuuists, still free to use their armies against the retn nants pf the Natioualists, the peac • delegation appears to t'ace an alinost insuperable task. The only model foi the coming peace is thought to be the terms accepted at Peiping, by whic!. the Communists secured intact the provincial and municipal administra tive macliipery, and are now directing them through a joint cbntrolling office. Tlie Nationalist forees cpmpleted the evacuation of Peiping, and the C0111niunists enteml the city today. The joint office setablished to deal wim military and political all'airs compnst's three Communists and three National ists.