CHINESE CIVIL WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1946, Page 8

CHINESE CIVIL WAR

. NEW PEACE MOVE BY CHIANG EIGHT PROPOSALS MADE NANKING, October 16. ■ Marshal Chiang Kai-shek in one of-his rare’public statements set forth eight proposals for ending the civil war. He said the present political and military situation in China should not be allowed to continue and intensify the people’s sufferings. Marshal Chiang proposed that the Communists simultaneously with the proclamation of the cessation of hostilities should announce their intention to participate in the National Assembly to draft a constitution. Marshal Chiang’s offer to the Communists came after an hour’s conference with General G. ,C. Marshall and the United States Ambassador (Mr J. Leighton Stuart). Marshal Chiang’s requirements are: (1) communications must be restored in accordance with the agreement tentatively reached last June; (2) truce terms miist be permitted to settle disputes; (3) redisposition of the troops in Manchuria must be carried out without delay; (4) the Government and Communist troops in north and central China to continue to ocupy the areas they control pending an agreement on their reorganisation, demobilisation, and unification; (5) whatever understanding is reached by Mr Stuart’s truce committee must be confirmed without delay by the Political Consultative Conference’s organising committee; (G) questions of local government, excluding Manchuria, must be settled by the newly-organised State Council; (7) the constitutional drafting committee must be convened immediately; (8) the Communists must agree to participate in the National Assembly. While Marshal Chiang was issuing his peace conditions fighting flared up in Manchuria as Government troops opened a three-pronged drive against Antung, a large trade centre near the Korean border, and the principal railway entry to Korea, The Nationalists are reported to have already ' captured Chinhoekeng, a road junction 90 miles from Antung. A dispatch from General Tu Limongjs headquarters at Mukden placed three columns, one 125 miles north-west -of Antung, another 160 miles north, and the third 120 miles north-east. The Communists are reported to be advancing towards Nunan, a road junction 42 miles north of Changshun. Government newspapers described the .advance as a threat to Changchun.