Barrage

Despot, dictator, lunatic, gangster--with these words Yenan last week resumed its political critique of Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek, after almost a year of vain negotiations between Chungking and the Chinese Communists. The words fell thick and fast.

Through an unnamed correspondent of their official news agency in Chungking, the Chinese Communists gave their answer to the Generalissimo's plea for unity and promise of constitutional government (TIME, March 12). They declared: the all-party national assembly, which Chiang proposed, would be a "congress of slaves" unless chosen by free elections. (Chiang wished to postpone elections until peacetime.) Chiang's profession of faith in democracy was "gangster talk." His suggestion that the Communist army (whose control is the pivotal issue between Chungking and Yenan) be turned over to a U.S. general under Chiang's supreme command was "lunatic" talk. His "dictatorship" must be ended. But in a "coalition" government, the Generalissimo "may still be allowed to occupy a seat . . . correct his former mistakes and atone for his crimes."

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