Gesture from Strength

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek again coordinated psychological warfare with military operations. As his armies neared victory at Chefoo, the Gissimo abruptly issued a cease-fire order and renewed his invitation to Chinese Communists to participate in the long-postponed meeting this week of China's National Assembly. Like his eight-point peace offer after the fall of Kalgan, it was a gesture from strength.

No one was surprised when the Communists rejected the truce. Chiang Kaishek, more than ever convinced by recent victories that he can defeat the Communists in the field, did not expect a Red yes to his proposal. He did hope that his national unity gesture would lure some of the minuscule parties of the wavering Democratic League into the Assembly sessions, thus reduce the appearance of one-party rule in China.

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