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5/4/1948 - China’s First National Assembly by A. Doak Barnett

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS NOT FOR PUBLICATION ADB F D Schultheis U S Embassy Nanking China Wal S RogersInsi1e Curren World Affairs May Fifth Avenue New York Y Dear Rogers Today marke Hsieh Ch small village several hours Chungking On market sreams farmers carry foodstuffs hamdicrafts converge village surround countryside narrow paths winding their tortuous through fields crowded people walking singl toward village This morning I procession walked College Rural Reconstruction where I temporarilystaing othesymarketplaces fHsiehaCh I begun process getting acquainted small rural China southern Szechuan Kweichow border I should describe program weeks letter leaving mporarily concerning plans I going defer until repor In letter I bring activities since repor ensin On April I final managed squeeze plane crowded National Assembly delegates Nrth China Nanking When I arrived Che capital I found Che young AusCralian diplomaCs I Mnown Peiping arranging I Cayed Nanng April April 24tho lAring those Weeks addition interviewing number people being nertaed friends I divided between arrivinga decision where I should raral condi Cions making necessary final arrangements curing roaring infected which I probably raced Shansi daily medical treatments including inje01zLons variety pills mouth washes covering National Assembly atending sessions almost every Assembly delegates ohers about meelings I extr_emely inCeresCing observing Assembly action confined observa Assembly events which place during sessions China Firs National Assembly opened Nanking March tsesnsceninuedtluglau hemen tfApril I1 provided surprises expected nothing colorless meaningless Kuomintang ipress naive obserers andabroad On handi disappointing believed might thorough democratic beginning oward constitutional governent China China National Assembly probably largest repre senative country Its theoretical member thousand ac1al number dolegates elected since J attending Firs Assembly somewha twenty seven hundred This group heterogeneous section elements Chinese society It representative primarily upper middle class groups occupations vocations professions cultural nority groups included The Assembly Hall crowded delegates China presented colorful spectacle Telve ligits focused auditorium stage which remend9s portrait Sun Yat framed larger national A portrai Chiang K auditorium balcony colorful flags draped hroughout Surrounded these ubiquitous symbols Of Republican China delegates included Uighurs Sinkiang wearing embroidered oslem Skull leather native gowns belts Tibetans Lama robes border region representatives could understand official andarin national language meetings companions whispered translations Even Hart Chinese difficulty understanding heavy provincial local aments delegates The language problem majer however since almost universally known among liera Chinese their varying backgrounds delegates certainly speak language terms Semantic Scholarly magnificen beards modern businessmen foreign clohes beautiful young women political bosses party hacks known modern intellecnals earnes young Yat uniforms plump women jammed together srange social conglomeration The roster included China Best known leaders including cabine ministers independent warlords famous generals One illiterate farmer delegate looked directly Spring plowing The eldes delegate eighty youngest three Two delegates blind The glamor Assembly beautiful anchu descendent Imperial family given unofficial Assembly greeted withwhistling cheering whenever appeared Although uniforms Scattered hroughou group overwhelmingly civilian The convocation colorful impressive group arouse nation enthusiasm interest I Peiping Tientsin during first Assembly meetings Chungking during closing these cities I discover casual interest Assembly sessions progress nation capialo Fort hough interest exend Assembly A greal delegates there hemselves responsibilities opportunities mmiously sessions alive often However earnestness inentions majority delegates constantly confronted double ebs1cle apathy outside Assembly nervenion organized Kuominng machine within Assembly For group SUCh unwieldy Assemb extremely organized Preparations meetings began Fall before election delegates early December On November Government appointed Preparatory Co Fo Chairman handle problems drawing prelininary plans organization cedures arranging housing transportation ultitude delegates When opening Asse postponed Deceber given ample prepare meetings As result delegates reached Nanking Assmbly organizational efficiency which impressive A fleet shiny buses assigned transport delegates hotels public buildings procured Assembly hostels arrangements local restauranZs serve delegates ticket basis A Assembly Hall iself seaing other requirements CarefUlly prearranged special gendarmes assigned Controlling traffic guarding auditorium information services established provisions print distribute copies Assembly proceedings rooms rooms special facilities sorts efficient modern esablishment The meetings hemselves scrupulous fairness diligent regard accepted democratic parliamentary procedures Delegates waned speak Voing facilities arranged complete secrecy balloting possible stuffing ballo boxes inconceivable The residium Seering Committee elected Assembly rotated Chairman position among members favoritism shown person group Assembly proceedings Freedom speech exercised gusto This ineresling encouraging aspects sessions It surprised people distressed ohers assertiveness independence delegales gathered momenm during course Assembly meetings before Assembly become forum national affairs sounding board public opinion Once inhibitions destroyed discontent publicly aired criticism Government The within Assembly sometimes almost pandemonium The dignity times would discouraging stablished representative ditions democratic acion these meetings contrary encouraging eerness which delegates insisted exerci freedon speech expense decorum The riots groups delegates arose shouled heatedly ateach across Assemby Hall brough smouldering discontent differences opinion The dominan position incumbent parly govermnent leaders never directly attaced current problems issues raised debaedo The expression opinion within Assembly however Zhai basically democratic represenZaZiwe constiluenc hundred million people ouZside interference control This being In first place election delegates Winer enoounlered innumerable difficulties obstacles inherent present general affairs China which prevented election being complete expression popular sense ZhaZ democratic elections theoreically should Under existing conditions China howeer inevitable intentions present The Assembly owerwhelmingly Kuomintang composition minority groups admitted sufferance matter Kuominang policy perhaps hebasis sincere desire broaden Government perhaps impress Chinese foreign perhaps mesul mixed motives including others The ineviab character Assembly could expected An unexpected developmen place before during Assembly sessios however Assembly seats The solution dispute shadow meetings threatened ravesty beginning consZitional democracy China The Origin dispute election political between Kuominang executives leaders Young China Party Democratic Socialist Party minority parlies which suppor conslitution The Kuominang anxious these small perties coopera Government semblance having multi character under constitution agreed allot certain nunber proposing backing Kuumintang candidates certain districts In believed coaliZion Government sorts could ensured Ihe fired however In dislrics involved Kuominang mmbers election withou sanction basis personal political resources backing successful defeaZing minor parZy candidates The number minor party members elected consequence below number promised elecio agreement serious infer party inZra rifts developed The minor parties complained bittely asserting double crossea whole thing purposely engineered They hreaened boycott Assembly This presented Kuomintang party leaders dilemma They could eiter support lecion results their coalition crumble aZempt their party members legitimately elected seats question They chose latter alternative Over hundred Kuomintang independentswere involved At first party rqustd these withdraw volmntarily allow minor candidates their A comlied majority adamantly refused Then power mehGds exerling pressure available party directed agins rebels withdraw They hreatened expulsion party leaders Chiang alternately pleaded thundered A wilhdrew bmany still refusing mandate people Ten group hunger strike strike Assembly Hall night threatened disrupl opening ession until ebels forcibly removed hours bfore meeting When thods pressure failed force oluntarily seats Kuominang officials group these rebels refused certification members sssmbly In coalition Preserved Assembly opened scheduled withou considerable delegates legitimately eleced This solution dispute serious Assembly The accomplishments Assembly democratic because which dispute solved The dispute however significant indication Kuominang party machine heall powerful omnipoent monolithic poliical organization sometimes assumed Alhougn decision party eaders finally dispute illegal dispute sowed absolute conrol either elections membership The fissions within party Io dramatically lighted again toward Assembly sessions during election Vice President China The first meetings Assembly doted preliminary organization Things moved rather slowly beginning There considerable Wrangling procedural organizational maers minor importance However after major disput Assembly Presidiu rsoled increasing Presidiu membership twenty eighty iorant groups within Assembly could berrsG1 Presid andAssbly oicrs finally elected first regular plenary session under April The functions ational Assembly outlined Chinese constition It legislative legislative ctions assigned Legislative Yuan The constitution states Assembly every years traordinary sessions rigut carry Gu specific powers election President Vice Presiden China recall these executive officers should removed amendmen constitution ratification nsiional amendments proposed Legislative Yuan In according consi Zne Ass normally nothing It became apparent however delegates believe should rigidly April April durig dscus Assembly rules procedure there dbate finally resulted detion Article rules which sated scope discusions Assembly powers enumerated constitution insertion article Assembly request administrative reports 0overmnent officials intcrp lations formul proposals discuss importan national before electing nation execu During there feverish acliviy various Governmen ministries ministers foresaw possibility being called public accounting Chiang Kai first report Assembly April He expressed complele failhin GoVernment ability defeat CoaunisZs Nationalist China collapse years sixty years blamed collapse Cemmunis propaganda predictions foreign papermen observers B account nation report The everything dandy It contained sphistry He claimed China currency which cvntinues value rapid beter backing before He listed assets bullion Central Bank vaulls foreign exchange abroad industrial commercial asses owned Governmenl failed point these asaes available provide converllble acking paper money coming prinling presses every hiang claimed military situation serious He announced policy strategy concentrating ilitary fores instead spreading thinly explanation recent Govern withdrawals several points predicted Commniss would cleared areas Yellow River within months When Honan delegate following criticized Chiang report inadequate uproar Assebly after calmed delegates decided imporan miaisters further repox General Pal Cmng National Defense followed Yui inister Finance Ch Chi inister E conomic Affairs Yu izister Comu nications YU Fei inister Food The inisters questioned Trom floor econoi military questions debated Assebly delegates The serious discussions Assembly however rooms Seven comitees established consider problems proposals under following headings Constitutional Amendments NaZional Defense Foreign Affairs Educaton Culture Econoics Social Security Border Regions The organization mittees somewha unusual Assembly dlegate could chuose which participate The Coaittee Consiional Amendments larges members because issue amendments which aroused great interest The Committee Foreign Affairs Smalles 45members Batiwasoneoftemostvocal spiteis All comiee followed accepted parliamentary procedures The issue constitutional amendment thoroughly debated Although delegates constitution should given chance before changes considered there siderablm eniment inffavor making changes imediaely Article polders National Assembly Article relationship between Executive Legislative Yuan Article powers Legislative Yuan amended strong appeals above discouraged Chiang others appealed vigorously delegates si1ion Possibly because minority groups parties various reasons opposed changes problem holdinghe coalition together involved In ques1tono consi1ional amendment emporarily dropped The result comitees resolutions recommendations numbering hundreds Because these passed plenary Assembly perfunctory manner cases Without complete reading after being passed binding force Government Nonetheless significs pressions popular sentiment One resolution called iediate liquidation wealthy falies inslructedh Government specific measures within three months Another called appeal United Nations Russia continuea refuse obligations under SinoSoviet Treaty The Government prodded points Oa April Assembly voted Io 2resident extraordinary emergency powers duration C9aunis suppressio campaign The validity these temporary constitutional provisions altogether clear accepted withou question nanral logical srious civil situation These measures Presid power independently emergency situations modified abrogated later Legislative Yuan either Legislative Yuan President himself minae period these emergency powers There additional clause calling convening National Assembly session before Deceber discussion amendments constitution On April Chiang K elected President China Soon afler Assembly opened Cniang shocked Assembl mominang announcing without forewarning extraordinary sessionofeCentral ExecutiveCo ieeofheKuoinang which selecl candidate presidency The effect declaration mobilize universal support among group Assembly virtually possibility opposition Been deliberate intention making statement Im elected makes position indispensable drafted Chu Cheng Kuomintang eeran President Judicial Yuan showing nothing token oposi however generally interpreted clear confirmation Chiang paramouat position personal leadership prestige Naionaliat China There present compete number position The results presidential election really regone conclusion presidential election political struggle which tense exciting brought Assembly dramatic All imporan national political cliques groups mobilized forces threw their weight another Because struggl concentrated space because progress shown recorded votes unusual pporuni otside observer inter factions uomin Or against other After debae Assembly question nominaio Kuomintang decided party nomination As result several Kuominang members Alge1er there candidates nominated Asembly petition The follows Sun Fo military Kuominang member Kwangu He Sun Ya enjoys considerable prestige Of Founder Chinese Republic He President Legislative Yuan since Norally wolves Kuominang party operates basis riends connections prestige Formerly considered liberal presen considered simply political opporunis people His original support Came Kwangtung delegates overseas Chi received backing powerful auomintang party machine rolled called CC Clique Chen Li party Organiza reputedly becaase desire CC Clique presidency Legislative Yuan essily giving Sun F anoth exchange Sun Fo election guess informed observers because backing machine Yu Yu nerable military Kumintang member Shensi Yu white bearded scholar caligrapher President Control Yuan He reportei backing CC Clique This manoever which hoped northern Li Li Tsung militsry Kuointang member Kwangsio Li known excellent military career which included Taierchwang icory Japanese administrative career joint leader eneral Pal Chung inisterf National Defense progressive auonoous regime Kwangsi H Presi Peiping Headquarters His backing included Kwangsi delegates Chinese oslems Northwes noriy groups hrough friend supporler Pal Chung outstanding ioslem Central Government spokesman minority groups northern friends acquired during Peiping He considered despite military backgromnd liberal progressive leader relatively speaking weeks before Assembly became rallying point liberal elemen1 within Kuominang including importan group Peiping professors His relations Chiang although recent years somewhat uncertain Li Pal revolt against Nanking early His election actively opposed Kuomintang machine Hsu Fu military Democratic Socialist Party membmr party leader during sence Carson C Hsu prominen Peking Goerment SateCounsellor HeisanativefKwangngandreceivedhesuppor southern delegates addition solid supper small party Ch Ch military Kuominang member known party story He Presden Headquarters Hankow His backing included personal party military friends delegates Central China Teh military partisan anchuria Formerly between liaison between auonomous anchnrian leader Chang Hsueh liang Central Goverhment His support consistedmmoZNorheasterners The campaigningof these candidates extensive included dinners campaign speeches posters pictures leaflets sound trcks deals Sun Fo lavish entertaining Yu Yu concentra edhis efforts inscribing personal scrolls buting delegates Li Tsung aided vivacioBs conscientious supporters talked hundreds people morning first balloting appeared steps Assembly Hall shook hands almost delegates entered building The voting abulatio results began April laborious dramatic After ballo boxes opened under glare klieg lights ballot announced ballot The reults beginning murpriming Li Ieading while Yu Yu showing Ch Ch showing which difficult observers explain Li received voices Net Sun Fo Ch Ch Yu Yu Hsu Fu eliminated according election procedure The elecZ rules sated candidate receiwed majority heoretical Assembly candidales would included balloing If candidate majoriy third balloting candidates would included fourth allong receiving elecedo Tension mounted election progressed particularly after Kwangang delegalion morning Assembly Hall immediately afZer voting proceeded masse smash Office printing National Salvation Daily which prined aacks SunFo second balloting however shwed change position leaders Li received votes Sun Ch Frantic minue political maneuvering place Then April electrifying happened which semEncan Ch engCh ienwithdrewfromheace conceding defeat Then Li withdrew asser being intmidae delegates preven voing Just things complete Sun Fo withdrew It after pleading Kuominangofficials Presidium Assembly andbypublicleadershat Tang jenandheoher candidaZesconsentedore enerZherace Inhehirdalloinn April Lireceived Sun Ch Then April Li eleced Vice residen Sun F 1295o The election Presiden assume importance proportion intrinsic importance which ilself relatively minor unless Presidenl I became imporan political stuggle which rivalries within augmintang Into eninabattleofballots TheelectionofGeneralLi Tsung defeat party machine victory opposi forces within The grouping reflexively liberal 91mmensaroundLi alhougnotaltGgetherlogicalinview Li military background significant lucre Li reported willing listen advice prgfessors similar people assis When Government administration reorganized inenear fuure number changes expected Li position spokesman certain opposition elements party influencing selection This necessarily personneland deermnaion policy however because relations between Vee Presiden Li Presiden Chiang strained Iwas reliably reported during election Chiang personally rdered Li Li defiance chief In Li watch fuureo S nurly ygurs Dak Barnett Recelve York