The Teaching of Tao Kung

Chinese Premier Chang Chun had two messages to send last week: one for the U.S., one for China. The day after his inauguration, he reported at 9 a.m. to his new office in the green-roofed Executive Yuan building, and after recalling his last year's trip to New York (for medical treatment), sent this message to the U.S.:

Very Remarkable. "I was impressed first of all by the prevalence of a law-abiding spirit. Through the window from my hospital bed in New York I watched the endless heavy traffic. Thousands of cars went by upon the street day and night--and only a few police guided them. It was very remarkable. . . . In China . . .we must teach the masses to understand responsibility . . . develop a law-abiding spirit. . . .

"Between the U.S. and China there is at present sad lack of contact and understanding. Communists and those they use . . . have succeeded in making Americans with some notable exceptions believe that China is only chaos, gloom, and doubt. ... So pervasive and persistent is that feeling that Americans prefer to sit back and wait, so far as China is concerned. . . .

"It is true that all is not in order here, but much has been done. For example, in those large areas where there is no Communist problem China is a good risk. . . . Even the French are interested in a railway between Chengtu and Indo-China. Only the Americans hold aloof--waiting for better risks. . . ."

"Unsuitably Tremendous." Next day, Chang Chun addressed the folks at home. He took advertising space in the Kuomintang Central Daily News to say:

"Chang Chun, being of inferior talent, is now given a very unsuitably tremendous burden and is afraid of his inability to shoulder it. Especially he fears he cannot perform his duties--even though he will use every exertion--due to difficulties confronting the nation and the heaviness of official work.

"Observing the ancient teaching of Tao [Kan]* Kung, that time is precious, he hereby declines and returns thanks for all invitations to dinner parties in his honor. . . ."

*One of whose best-known precepts is: "One inch of time is equal to one inch of gold."

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