19 DECEMBER 1931, Page 2

Trouble at Nanking The resignation of General Chiang Kai-shek and

his colleagues in the Cabinet, particularly Mr. T. V. Soong and Dr. Wellington Koo, is extremely disquieting, though resignations often serve in China to demonstrate a Minister's indispensability and pave the way for his recall by acclamation. That may quite possibly happen this time. The deciding factor has been the bands of students, completely out of hand, who ended the career of the Foreign Minister, Mr. C. T. Wang, three months ago by a physical attack which drove him into retirement and have now brought the whole Cabinet down. Tem- porary successors to the departed Ministers have been appointed, or appointed themselves, but no permanent Cabinet can be constructed till after the Kuomintang meetings next week. The Canton faction is to take part in them, and will, of course, try and get its own candidates elected. It is doubtful whether a better President than General Chiang Kai-shek can be found, and the appoint- ment of any other Finance Minister than Mr. Soong would unquestionably be a change for the worse, though Mr. Li-ming, who is spoken of as his successor, would be a good choice. Canton could contribute a capable Foreign Minister in Dr. C. C. Wu, but its preference appears to be for Mr. Eugene Chen. It is possible, though hardly likely, that a fusion between Nanking and Canton may materialize.