Peace?

Dramatis Personace:

Marshal Tsao Kun, President of China.

General Feng Yu-hsiang, "Chinese Christian Soldier," dictator at Peking.

Super-Tuchun Chang of Manchuria, friend to Feng.

Super-Tuchun Wu, opposed to Feng and Chang.

Marshall Tuan Chi-jui, an ex-Premier, known for his friendliness to Japan.

Fighting in the Chinese civil war, which has disrupted the North for the past few months (TIME, Sept. 8 et seq.) was ended. Out of chaos there began to emerge a semblance of order, but real peace seemed a mere illusion.

Presidency. With the appearance of General Feng in Peking at the head of a powerful army, President Tsao Kun had no recourse but to resign the Presidency. He accordingly handed over his seals of office to the new Cabinet (see under) which then assumed the functions of the Presidency.

According to the Peking despatch, the ex-President, who has been in office slightly more than a year (TIME, Oct. 15, 1923), was still resident in the Presidential Palace. Complete freedom of action was accorded to him.

Meantime, preparations were in train for the election to the Presidency of Marshal Tuan who is, apparently, to become the puppet President of the "Chinese Christian Soldier."His Japanese sympathizers are now heralded with widespread delight, although such was not always the case.

War. The defection of General Feng (TIME, Nov. 3) left Super-Tuchun Wu in a virtually untenable position. Harrassed from the North by the advancing troops of Super-Tuchun Chang, he conducted a retreat on Peking with the object of ridding the world of "Traitor" Feng. The odds were too heavy. Several times, military observers declared, Chang could have annihilated the Wu army, but he always left a loophole for its retreat by way of the sea. Finally, Wu requested an armistice from General Feng. The war stopped. Peace negotiations proceeded. Chang was reported retiring to Mukden, his capital, but this seemed improbable. Peace at all events seemed possible.

Cabinet. General Feng requested the retiring Premier, Dr. W. W. Yen, to form a new Cabinet, but he refused. General Huang Fu, ex-Minister of Education, was then approached and agreed to head a Provisional Cabinet.