"Commissioner'' Feng

"Commissioner" Feng

Easier in mind than he had been for months was President Chiang Kai-shek last week. Painlessly, tactfully, he removed the discordant figure of Marshal Feng Yu-hsiang, the "Christian General," from the harmony of Chinese politics.

A month ago, Marshal Feng, war lord of Peiping (Peking) and the Northwestern Provinces, was on the verge of war with the Nationalist Government. Four hundred thousand troops were mobilized on either side. Haughty Marshal Feng sent scurrilous letters to President Chiang, and rallied his allies (TIME, June 3). Last week, before actual hostilities commenced, the "Christian General" suddenly capitulated, agreed to leave China.

It was not a complete surrender. For calling off the war, Marshal Feng was to receive $3,200,000 from the Nanking government; three millions to pay off his private army, $200,000 for personal traveling expenses. Further, Marshal Feng was not going abroad, ignominiously, "for his health," as has many another discredited Chinese leader. On his travels Marshal Feng will soothe his wounded dignity with the comforting title of "Special Investigation Commissioner of Foreign Economic Affairs for the Nanking Government." Lastly President Chiang was forced publicly to cancel the order for the capture and punishment of Marshal Feng, before he would consent to leave the country.

Whatever the cost, it was worth it to get rid of turbulent Feng. Last week a stable China united under one government seemed nearer fulfillment than at any time in the past 18 years. Feng's armies and dominions, it was announced, were to be turned over to Marshal Yen Hsi-shan, strong ally of the Nationalists, "Model Governor" of Shansi Province.