CHINA: Bottom of the Barrel

Six months ago, Marshal Yen Hsi-shan, commander of besieged Taiyuan, kept 500 vials of poison in his office, swearing that he and his staff would kill themselves if the Communists took the city (TIME, Nov. 15). Last week the Reds held Taiyuan and the Marshal, unpoisoned and unbowed, was Premier of China.

He got the job by default. Last week, for the third time in six weeks, Premier Ho Ying-chin sent in his resignation. This time President Li Tsung-jen accepted it. Li submitted to a Legislative Yuan meeting at Canton the nomination of...

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