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Fukien was the last straw of revolt last week, the straw that broke Generalissimo Chiang's resolve to lead the anti-Communist drive in Kiangsi, the straw that caused him to summon his Council of Generals. Last month the Province of Fukien near Canton was announced to have "seceded" (TIME, Nov. 27). Last week Fukien's bold rebels dared to claim that they, not Nanking, represent the true Government of all China. Hurling defiance at Generalissimo Chiang they announced that their army will be led by General Tsai Ting-kai, famed commander of the 19th Route Army in its deathless defense of Shanghai (TIME, Feb 22. 1932, et seq.) What is left of the Old 19th, brought up to full strength by new recruits, will fight under General Tsai. More important, the new Fukien Government has as its "brains" that amazing man of South Chinese politics, Eugene Chen. It was he who provided the potential menace to Nanking's authority, he who caused Chiang to rush from his Council of Generals and mobilize his best troops to be led by himself against Fukien.
Hard, hot-eyed, taciturn Eugene Chen looks like Nikolai Lenin disguised as Rudyard Kipling. He was born in British Trinidad, got his start at the London bar and according to his many Chinese enemies "cannot speak or write Chinese."
Since most Chinese statesmen are fluent in English, Mr. Chen seldom has to use his halting Chinese, lashes out with a searing, corrosive power of invective which has made him a force in China ever since he was appointed legal adviser to the original Canton Government of the late, great Dr. Sun. Last year Mr. Chen quarreled with Conqueror Chiang and since then with all the spleen in his bitter soul he has been out to smash the Generalissimo whom he calls "medievally minded," "politically dishonest," "the betrayer of China to Japan" and "the Dictator without a soul who would wreck the Kuomintang."
It was in the name of the Kuomintang ("People's Party") that Chiang conquered China. Nanking still claims to be the Government of the Kuomintang. Last week the subtle, intriguing hand of Eugene Chen was seen when the Canton Government not only demanded that Generalissimo Chiang resign but added that the Nanking Government must be reorganized to give the People's Party a greater share in the running of the State. Since there are no elections in China, the People's Party leaders are self-made politicos like Mr. Chen whose prestige is their mandate. Nanking and Peiping politicos stand for conservatism in the Kuomintang, while those in Fukien and Canton stand for a radicalism nearly if not quite Communist. What Fukien's defiance and Canton's demands really meant was that South Chinese statesmen are launching a new onslaught to smash what they call the Nanking "Dynasty of Soong," the real power behind the Nanking Government.
"Utter Annihilation." Three smart sisters and their great brother comprise today the Dynasty of Soong. Their father, the late, pious and ingenious Charles Jones ("Charlie") Soong, made money by printing in China millions of Bibles for the missionary trade. He helped to make history by harboring in his house and backing with his money the Great Rebel. Dr. Sun Yatsen, later First President of the Chinese Republic.