Popular Feeling in China Swings Over to Nanking

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 31, 20 February 1937, Page 15

Popular Feeling in China Swings Over to Nanking

SHANGHAI. — Whatever 'the fate of t General Chiang Kai-shek, reported slain . by Shensi rebels, civil war is apparently r inevitable unless the generalissimo is l produced without delay. The Central Politieal Council at NanKing has ordered a punitive expedition . against Sianfu and the rebels under i Marshal Chang Hsiaoliang. i Many believe that' the fundamentals are too deeply divergent for the possibility of averting a clash, regardless of specific personalities, although the assurance that General Chiang is alive would cause an easing of pressure from Nanking. Marshal Chang and his clique of former Manchurian officers have been resentful since 1931 over the compuisory, peaeeful evacuation in the north. Thus the coup d'etat represents logically the inevitable explosion of long-pent-up feelings. However, the situation apparently piays into Japan's hands instead of unifying the antiJapanese movement, since leaders in all parts of the country are telegraphing their suppoxt to Nanking, apparently leaving Marshal Chang's followers and Communists divided from the others they had hoped to enlist on their side for war with Japan. The combined rebel foree might total 200,000, which is sufficient to engage in a great. civil war, but insufficient to iight Japan and the Nanking Government simultaneously. The Government is lceeping a good grip on financial and other matters, but business is worried and the longsought unification of extremists is in jeopardy. Wild rumours are being co-mbated, but the usual souyces are handicapped by complete iack ot any completely substantiated news from Bianfu. The American hands-ofl! policy is appreeiated 'by Chinese officialdom.