Chop-Chop!

Having waited 35 years for democracy, China this week was moving fast. Delegates to the National Assembly meeting at Nanking prepared to vote on some of the 300 changes proposed in the 1936 constitution draft, hoped to adjourn by Christmas with the task completed.

Although he has been meticulously careful to avoid any appearance of Kuomintang pressure on Assembly delegates, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek was in the greatest hurry of all. Before General of the Army George C. Marshall left for home, the Gissimo hoped to have for him full assurances of the Government's democratic intentions. An approved constitution, embodying the liberalizing decisions of the Political Consultation Conference, would be the best assurance of all.

Once the Assembly finished its job, Chiang could proceed with reorganization of the State Council and Executive Yuan, might promulgate the new constitution on New Year's Day. He would also be in a strong position for a final appeal to the Chinese Communists at Yenan.

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