I. First Anniversary of President Chiang's Resumption of Office
On March 1 Free China celebrated with great enthusiasm the first anniversary of President Chiang's resumption of office. The President was elected to his post at the National Assembly in Nanking, May 5, 1948. In the early part of 1949, President Chiang, in response to repeated demands for a peaceful settlement with the Communists—which step he abhorred and has now been proved most foolish temporarily yielded his office on January 21, 1949, to Vice President Li Tsung-jen who subsequently became an Acting President, thus giving an opportunity to test whether such settlement was workable. The course of events needs no elaboration for the present purpose, but it suffices to say that without President Chiang's leader ship during the period from January 1949 to the end of February 1950, national affairs were in a terrible mess and the Chinese people were at a great loss as to which direction they should follow. However, since March 1 last year Free China has gradually become more stable then ever before and people in this island are faced with a prospect, bright and hopeful. Now with the change of international situation brought about by the Korean War, they are confident that they will be able to return to the main land in great military strength to put to an end, once for all, vermin of Communism.
Therefore, it was quite natural that Free China should have celebrated this happy occasion with spontaneous enthusiasm.
II. First Anniversary of General Chen Cheng's Cabinet
The past year has been the most critical one in China's fight against Communist aggression. But thanks to the unremitting efforts of the Executive Yuan under General Chen Cheng difficulties have been tided over and remarkable improvements in the political, military, economic and social fields have been made. President Chiang, at the luncheon given by him on March 15 in honor of General Chen Cheng and his Cabinet Ministers on the occasion of the first anniversary of the formation of the cabinet, spoke highly of the achievements made during the past year.
Today Free China is gathering strength in every respect. Major Erie Cocke, Jr., Commander of the American Legion, who has been here recently, said that the American people and war veterans were standing definitely on the side of Free China. People of this island do not feel alone and isolated now. The tougher they fight against Communism, the more friends shall they have.
Nevertheless, the Government and People of Free China must demonstrate their ability to overcome difficulties and succeed. In reviewing the achievements in the military field, General Kuo Chi-chiao, Minister of National Defense, said that the cornerstone had been laid down for building up modernized armed forces. C. K. Yen, Minister of Finance, announced that a sound budgetary system had been established with the national budget fast approaching a balance. Mr. George Yeh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, also declared that foreign policy in the past year had been geared to General Chen's fundamental principle of building up the strength of Taiwan for ultimate return to the mainland.
General Chen, however, has warned the people of Free China that they should not relax their efforts until they triumphantly return to the mainland.
III. International Women's day
March 8, the International Women's day has been enthusiastically celebrated by women in Free China this year, for they are fully aware that they are sharing with men the long and tough fight against Communism. The Day also reminds them of their heavy responsibility which calls for incessant efforts and firm determination to work for the cause of freedom and democracy.
About 3,000 representatives of women from all walks of life were gathered in Taipeh City Hall on the morning of March 8 in commemoration of the Women's Day. At the meeting General Chen Cheng told the audience that the work done by women in Free China had gone a long way in helping achieve social stability, arousing in the general public inspiration and great hopes. He also paid a high tribute to the good results various woman organizations in Free China under the inspiring leadership of Madame Chiang Kai-shek had achieved.
Lady speakers at the meeting all emphasized the point that women of China must concentrate their efforts with one aim in view, namely, to defeat Communism and to recover the mainland, thus paving the way for national reconstruction.
They also sent an appeal to their sisters in the democratic world to "unite and fight with undaunted courage for democracy and freedom, for the suppression of acts of aggressor, for the eradication of Communist totalitarianism and for the preservation of world peace."
Indeed, the part that can be played by women in Free China and elsewhere for a new world order should by no means be slighted.
IV. The Fighting Diplomat
Dr. T. F. Tsiang, Chief Delegate of the Chinese Government to the United Nations arrived at Taipeh on March 20th. It is his first trip to Taipeh and also his first homecoming sojourn since 1947. His appearance here in Free China at this moment of a tense international situation must have considerable significance. Said Tsiang, his return is of a dual purpose, namely, (1) to report to the Government on the delegation's work in the United Nations; (2) to study the present conditions as exist and improvements achieved in Taiwan.
Tsiang is known in Free China as well as in the Free World as a fighting- diplomat. He has been carrying on a diplomatic war in the United Nations under most difficult circumstances. What seemed to many a losing battle was to Tsiang a test of his tenacity, eloquence and foresight. Those who ridiculed and ignored him in the United Nations suddenly found him a prophet in world politics. The outbreak of the hostilities in Korea has vindicated the truth of his statements made at the United Nations.
In one of his press interviews he was reported to have said, inter alia, the following:
"Our position in the United Nations is much better than one year ago. This is brought about by two factors: (1) The Free World has been fully aware of the fact that the Chinese Communists are in reality the blood hounds of their masters in the Kremlin. The Soviet Union itself has already had three votes in the United Nations—Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia, besides such votes as enjoyed by her satellites. If the Peiping regime were allowed to take its seat in the United Nations, the Kremlin's voice would be come much more boisterous. (2) When I went to Lake Success three years ago, I could hardly hear any word favourable to the Nationalist Government. Now the situation has changed. Such improvements as made by our government in the political, economic and military fields are gradually known to and appreciated by most UN members."
V. Red Terrorism on the Mainland
The Defense Ministry declared on the night of March .3 that over 1,000,000 persons had already been massacred on the mainland in the current Communist blood purge. The Ministry also said that 25,000,000 were market by the Communists for slaughter, before the outbreak of another world war.
This blood purge has been nation-wide, and there are victims almost in every village. People in Free China have received this news with fury and horror. The Control Yuan, the highest supervisory body of the National Government formally asked the United Nations to take effective measures to make the Chinese Communists halt their atrocities. But it is believed that the Chinese Reds, madly pursuing the avowed policy of destroying the so-called "disloyal" and "unfaithful" elements amounting to almost genocide will never lend car to any measure short of military sanctions.
Names of victims are gradually known to Free China. Every m1n or woman here is expected to get the news that his or her next-of-kins or friends on the mainland have been killed by the Reds. Free China is angrily aroused with ret1ewed determination to fight back to the mainland in the nearest future.
Yang Chen, a distinguished scholar of the Han Dynasty, was famed for his integrity. Once he was urged to accept a bribe. The donor said, 'No one will ever know it.' To this Yang Chen made the answer: 'Heaven knows it, Earth knows it, you know it, and I know it; how then do you say that no one will know it?'