Correspondence
A LETTER FROM PEKING.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—There is no doubt that the recent conference agreed to the idea of a civil Government with Chang Tso-lin at the head. Chang must have made his friends realize that a return to civil administration must be made before recognition by important foreign Powers is possible and before treaty revision and kindred subjects can profitably be discussed. In other words, Chang is intent upon making that strong, central Government of China which all the important Powers have announced they are waiting to deal with so soon as it. shall emerge from the welter of factions striving backwards and forwards across the country.
Controlling only two provinces in China proper, Chang Tso-lin is in no sort of position to call the Parliament necessary. for his election, or even such a gathering as the " packed " National Conference by which Marshal Than Chi-jui obtained the Chief Executiveship in 1925. Hence there remains an imperative need for an enlargement of his territory. If ever the Nationalists achieved unity with Feng Yu-hsiang under their banner, Chang Tso-lin's hope of establishing a Govern ment of consequence would be gone. The Natidnalists would have established a strong case for recognition and Chang would be lucky to retain the two provinces he now has. Fortunately for his plans, the Nationalists remain disintegrated, in spite of the return of Chiang Kai-shek with a bride of .the Sun family on his arm, and if Feng Yu-bsiang ceased to exist' as a military power, then the South would be weakened still further. Hence the decision to attack Feng again. Chang Tsung-Chang, of Shantung, attacked him last autumn with' the same intention, but his unpaid troops failed, and it is likely that this leader will not participate prominently in' the" coming engagement.
An indication of Chang Tso-lin's serious intentions is the appointment of his chief of staff, General Yang Yu-ting, to an active post in the field. Yang has long been looked upon as the brains of the Fengtien party, the power behind the Dictatorship without which the Dictator himself would often be at a loss. He has generally kept out of the limelight, but has always been the hidden force behind the present shadoW Cabinet. He is a man of considerable military ability and of decision and personal courage. The manner in which he completely frustrated the Morgan loan of $40,000,000 to the Japanese South Manchuria Railway Co. is an instance of his fearlessness when dealing with Chang Tso-lin's one-time overlord, Japan.
Yang will still be in the background, nominally serving under Chang Hsueh-liang, the Dictator's son, a young man of no ability whatever except in the direction of publicity,, by which means he has built a reputation as a Chinese leader of the modern type which hardly conforms with facts. He invariably has a competent general with him in the field for the purpose, as one American put it, " of doing the work while young Chang took the glory, if any."
With the arrival of the s.s. Praga ' in Northern waters, after being chased by a Nationalist gunboat, there have- arrived three shiploads of arms, ammunition, and armoured cars, all of which will be used in the coming campaign and which must give the Northerners a considerable advantage in equipment over Feng Yu-hsiang. His long-expected elimination seems to be close at hand.
however, if the Northern militarists establish themselves as masters of China north of the Yangtse, it is to be hoped that the civil form of Government will be a decided change from the military domination now ruling. The only notable thing to the credit of Chang Tso-lin's administration of eighteen months is that roads out of the capital have been enormously improved, making possible considerable motor. traffic for developing Chihli. But even in this matter economic , development of the country was the last consideration, the , project going forward in order to make easier the urgent passage of military traffic in times of necessity. Similarly. the main reason for maintaining the efficiency. of the Peking- - Mukden Railway (the best, railway in. China proper) is because it is the only _reliable highway between Peking and Chang
Tso-lin's own Manehuria.—I am, Sir, &c., ,
tnra PEKING CORRESPONDENT..:
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