CHINA TORN BY SUSPICION

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5297, 9 January 1947, Page 5

CHINA TORN BY SUSPICION

( Press Assn.-

ENVOY FRUSTRATED liberal ieadership will save country

—Rec. 9.S0 v.m.)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8. The White House released a personal statement by General George Marshall, who is leaving Nanking to-day. General Marshall said- that sincere efforts to achieve settlement between the Government and the Communist forces had been. frustrated time and aga,in by extremists on both sides. The salvaiion of China eould be achieved if the liberals in the Government and minority parties assumed leadership. The greatest obstacle to peace had been the complete, almost overwhelming, suspicion with which the Communist Party and the Kuomintang regarded each other. In the national Government, whch was in effect the Kuomintang Party, a dominant group of reactionaries had opposed almost every effort he made to influience the formation of a Coalition Government. They frankly thought that co-op-eration by the Communist Party within the Government Avas inconcqivable and only force could s^ttle the issue. Among the Communists there was a ddiinite liberal group, but the dyed-in-the-wool Communists did not hesitate at the most drastic measures to gain iheir end. They completely distrusted the Kuomintang leaders. Harmful Prppaganda Communist Party propaganda had been harmful and provocative. "I wish to state to the AmerR.can people that in its deliberate misrepresentation and abuse of the action, policies and purposes of our Government, this propaganda has been without regard for the truth," said General Marshall. "It gives plain evidence of a determined purpose to nlislead the Chjinese people and the world, and to arou.se bitter hatred of Americans." General Marshall added that Government publicists had made numerous misrepresentations, though not of the vieious nature of the Communist propaganda. General Marshall said the reactionaries in the Chinese Government evidently counted on subsantial American support regardless of their actions. In referring to Kuomintang groups who were interested in the preservation of their own feudal control of China, General Marshall said: "Although I speak as a soldier, I must. here also declare the dominating influence of the military, whjch accenuates the weakness of the civil Gov-ei-nment in China." The Communists, said General Marshall, by their unwillingness to compromise in the national interest, and regardless of Ihe suffering caused to the Chinese people, were evidently counting on economic collapse, aecelerated by guerilla warfare, to bring about the fall of the Government. The National Assembly had adopted a democratic constitution, but it remained to be seen to what extent the Government would genuinely weleome all groups, including the Communists, to partiqipale in responsibility for China's future. Outstanding Influence The Associated Press' Peiping correspondent says General Marshall has been an outstanding influence for democracy within the Kuomintang. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's recent support of the new liberal constitution. was interpreled as a product of General Marshall's contacts. General Marshall also helped prepare a programme for the reorganisation and nationalisation -of China's armies. This programme may well form the basis for Chiang's future plans. The Communists woulcl like xo see General Marshall continue as referee if the United S.:ates would cease suppori^ing the Kuomintang and help persuade Chiang to give up the Communist territory seized since January, 1946, and to reconvene the National Assembly on the agreed inter-party lines. i