FRUSTRATED

Evening Star, Issue 25994, 8 January 1947, Page 5

FRUSTRATED

U.S. Mediation In China

Balked By Party Suspicion

America Deliberately Misrepresented

<Rec. noon.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 7. The White House has released a personal statement by General Marshall, who is leaving Nanking to-morrow to report to President Truman. General Marshall said that sincere efforts to achieve a settlement between the Government and the Communist forces had been frustrated time and again iby extremists on both sides. The salvation of China could be achieved if the' liberals in the Government apd the minority parties assumed leadership. The greatest obstacle to peace was the almost overwhelming susPlcion with which the Communist arty and the Kuomintang regarded each other. In the National Government, which was in effect the Kuomintang Party, a dominant group of reactionaries opposed almost every effort he had made to influence the formation of a coalition Government. They were frankly of the opinion that co-operation by the Communist Party within the Government was inconceivable, and that only force could settle the issue. Among the Communists there was a definite liberal group, but dyed-in-the-wool Communists did not hesitate at the most drastic measures to gain their end. They completely distrusted the Kuomintang leaders. Communist Party propaganda had been harmful and provocative. ” I wish to state to the American people that there had been deliberate misrepresentation and abuse of the action, policies, and purposes of our Government/’ said

General Marshall. ” This propaganda has been without regard for truth, it has given plain evidence of a determined purpose to mislead the Chinese people and the world, and to arouse bitter hatred of the Americans.” • General Marshall added that the Government publicists made numerous misrepresentations, though not of a vicious nature, of Communist propaganda. General Marshall said that the reactionaries in the Government evidently counted on substantial American support regardless of their actions

Dominating Military Influence

Referring to the Kuomintang groups who were interested in the preservation of their own feudal control of China, General (Marshall said: “ Although 1 speak' as a soldier, I must here also deplore the dominating influence of the military, which accentuates the weakness of civil government in China ” Referring to the Communists, General Marshall said that by their unwillingness to compromise in the national interest, end regardless of the

suffering caused to the Chinese people, they were evidently counting on an economic collapse accelerated by guerrilla warfare to bring about the fall of the Government. ' General Marshall added that the National Assembly had adopted a democratic Constitution, but it remained to be seen to what extent the Government would genuinely welcome all groups, including Communists, to participate in responsibility for China’s future.

Influence For Democracy

The • Peiping correspondent of the [Associated Press says that General Marshall had been an outstanding influence for democracy within the Kuomintang. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s recent support of the new Liberal Constitution was interpreted as a product of General Marshall’s contacts. General Marshall had also helped to prepare the programme for the reorganisation and nationalisation of China’s

armies. This programme may well form the basis for Chiang’s future plans. The Communists would like to see General Marshall continue as referee if the United States would cease supporting'the Kuomintang, and help to persuade Chiang to give up the Communist territory seized since January, 1946, and to reconvene the Natiopal Assembly on agreed interparty lines.