CHINA'S ARMIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17783, 7 August 1929, Page 7

CHINA'S ARMIES.

IMPOSSIBLE BURDEN. ,1 FINANOE MINISTER RESIGNS. A POLITICAL SENSATION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn —Copyright.*, (Australian Press Association.) |j (Received August 7, 10.30 a.m.) I SHANGHAI, August 6. « The second political sensation in two days occurred to-day, when the Finance Minister, Mr T. V. Soorig, re- i signed from the Nationalist Govern- j ment.

The first was yesterday, when Ho Shih-tseng, president of the Shanghai Provisional Court, which is wellknown as a semi-political tribunal and a Koumintaing instrument, resigned for obscure reasons.

Mr Soong’s resignation is believed to be due to the Government’s decision. to expend thirteen million dollars (about £1,300,000) monthly oil the Nationalist army, which sum Mr Soong declares it is impossible to provide.

THE “SOONG DYNASTY.” The resignation of Mr Soong means a serious break in the Nationalist ranks. He is related by marriage to President Chiang Kai-shek. His three sisters have married some of the greatest Nationalist leaders, and their influence, with that of Mr Soong, has become so strong that people talk facetiously of a ’’Soong Dynasty.” One Miss Soong, an active Westernised girl, married the late Dr. Sun Yat-sen after his divorce. Another is President Chiang’s wife, and another the wife of Dr. 11. H. Kung, a member of the party council. Mr Soong’s resignation is of special importance in relation to the present clash with Russia over the Manchurian section of the trans-Siberian railway.