Yen to Nanking

Most potent of those who moved from North China to Nanking last week was Ihe estimable Marshal Yen Hsi-shan, famed "Model Governor" of Shansi Province.

Although Shansi has long since federated with the Nanking Nationalist Government, Marshal Yen has delayed coming to Nanking, giving a typically modern alibi--"appendicitis" (TIME, Aug. 13).

Chinese alibis being what they so often are, it was freely rumored that Yen and his Shansi were at best holding aloof and at worst were likely to attack Nanking. Last week, however, the Marshal pompously approached "Southern Capital" upon his private train, accompanied by wife and retinue. At the station stood slender, waspish President Chiang Kaishek, and strapping War Minister Feng Yu-hsiang. As Yen joined Chiang and Feng, press photographers snapped "China's Big Three."

Shortly, Marshal Yen Hsi-shan was installed as Minister of Interior of the new Nationalist Government. At last it could be said that a single Cabinet contains all the outstanding soldiers and statesmen of China. The occasion made it appropriate if not imperative to explain just what the Nationalist State is. Available last week was much new and authoritative information which may be summarized thus:

The new Nationalist Government is not a Republic but an Oligarchy or Dictature. In many organic details it resembles the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics -- "Russia"--and the Fascist State created by Benito Mussolini.

Theoretically supreme and sovereign is the Congress of the Nationalist Party. This is by no means a democratically elected body. Its members represent the Party alone, much as the new Italian Parliament will represent not the "People" but the Fascist Party.

Actually supreme at Nanking is the Central Executive Committee of Forty-Six, which recalls by its title the Russian Central Executive Committee. The Chinese Committee is technically responsible to the Party Congress; but the Congress cannot assemble except by order of the Committee, which is supreme when the Congress is not in session.

Responsible to the Central Executive Committee are the Political Council and the State Council. The former is a propaganda and political strategy bureau. The latter is unique; but may be called a super-cabinet. The President of the State Council or super-cabinet is Marshal Chiang Kaishek, who is by courtesy "The President of China."

Subordinate to the State Council of 16 are the five Yuans or Divisional Councils. The first of these, the Executive Council, is the Cabinet, comprising 10 ministries: War, Interior, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Mining, Industry, Commerce and Labor, Education, Communications, Railways, Health.

The second Yuan is that of Justice, headed by the great Chinese jurist Wang Chung-hui, onetime representative of China on the World Court. The third or Legislative Yuan is a large council of from 49 to 99 members, with parliamentary initiative. The fourth and fifth Yuans are those of Examination ("Civil Service") and Council Control (having powers of impeachment and audit).

Though this system of Government may seem complex and anomalous in the extreme, it is greatly simplified by the closely interlocked membership of the various Committees, Yuans and Councils.