Soong Dynasty

Faced by advancing Nationalist Armies, lacking the allies he had counted on, stalwart, crop-headed "Christian" General Feng Yu-Hsiang realized dismally last week the inopportuneness with which he had declared war on the Nationalist Government (TIME, June 3).

Hastily he wrote to thin, nervous President Chiang Kai-Shek, craftily offering to leave China for a period of years--provided that all members of the "Soong Dynasty" resign from their governmental posts and also go into voluntary exile.

"Soong Dynasty" was a frightful term to use to the President of China's earnest young Republic. By it Marshal Feng meant the governing group which has ruled the Nationalist Party for so long; a group headed by Finance Minister T. V. Soong, President Chiang Kai-Shek, Minister of Commerce H. H. Kung. The last two are both married to sisters of Finance Minister Soong. Potent Mme. Sun Yat-Sen. Dr. Sun's widow, is another Soong.

The crafty "Christian General" pointed out that with Feng and the "Soong Dynasty" resigned, the last of the Chinese militarists would be removed from power and the Government could fall into the hands of civilians, one of Dr. Sun's most cherished ambitions. Further, wrote Marshal Feng, President Chiang had often promised to retire to private life after the final funeral of Sun Yat-Sen (TIME, June 3). Was this not the moment? In case the "Soong Dynasty" should not fall in with his altruistic scheme, Marshal Feng ordered his private train in readiness to carry him from the interior to Peking, hinted at an imminent visit to Canada and the U. S. to repair his health.