End & Beginning

With the convocation of the oft-postponed National Constitutional Assembly last week, China entered a new phase in her long search for democratic unity. By calling the Assembly in the face of a Communist boycott, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek underscored his recent military victories over the Reds. He could proceed --unilaterally, if necessary--to establish the forms if not the substance of democracy, could tell the Communists and other dissenters to like it or lump it.

This meant that President Truman's directive of last December, under which General George C. Marshall sought a compromise conclusion to China's civil war, had been outdated by events. Chiang's successes in the field had invalidated it. The Assembly meeting made hope for mediation dim as starlight.

No shadow of blame could be cast on George Marshall. In eleven months he had won the affection and respect of both Nationalist and Communist leaders, and the Chinese people. (Mrs. Marshall's graceful contributions had included teaching the austere Generalissimo to relax over Chinese checkers.)

Now that there was no longer room for the delicate--and probably impossible--task of mediating between a sovereign government and armed rebels, U.S.-Chinese relations could return to normal diplomatic channels. In Ambassador Leighton Stuart, the Chinese people would keep a good, old friend; if & when George Marshall departed, they would bid farewell to a good, new one.

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