No. 2

The Japanese were 310 miles from Chungking (see WORLD BATTLEFRONTS). In China's darkest hour Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek girded his Government for the trial. He appointed his able, U.S.educated brother-in-law, Foreign Minister T. V. Soong, the Executive Yuan's Acting President. He relieved his brother-in-law and former Finance Minister H. H. Kung, now in the U.S., of the vice presidency. (Another likely appointment: Dr. Wu Ting-chang, banker and Kweichow Governor, as Executive Yuan Secretary.)

At 50, T. V. Soong now holds China's No. 2 post. All Asia knows him as "T.V." --the initials that stand for Tse-Veng (Scholarly Son), the name given him by his stern Methodist father. All Asia knows him, too, as one of the Far East's big, progressive-minded, dynamic statesmen.

When he came out of Harvard and Columbia 29 years ago, T.V. went to work for a New York bank, soon shifted to business in Canton, swiftly swept to a high position in Chinese finance and government. In matters of currency, politics and foreign policy he became Chiang's troubleshooter. Last February, when he lost the presidency of the powerful Bank of China, his career suffered an eclipse. Now it shines promisingly again.

For friends of China, T.V.'s appointment was the most heartening news since Chiang reorganized his Government (TIME, Nov. 27). They could hope that the change had not come too late.

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