A Holiday Spirit

More than a fortnight ago, the Gimo wrote Nationalist General Fu Tso-yi in Peiping of his decision to retire. The letter instructed Fu to make his own plans for North China. Last week, a typical Chinese solution ended the 40-day Communist siege of China's ancient capital.

Peiping's massive gates swung open and through them General Fu ("I will defend this city to the last!") marched 100,000 troops for "reorganization." At Peiping, Nationalists and Communists signed an agreement designed to "shorten the civil war, satisfy a public desire for peace and . . . prevent the vitality of the country from sinking any further." The agreement did not mention "surrender."

Other points included: establishment of a "liaison" office responsible for "military and political affairs during a period of transition"; continued operation of "utilities, banks, warehouses and schools"; continuation of postal and telegraphic service with the outside world. Nationalist transport planes continued to evacuate military men and Kuomintang secret service operatives.

On Sunday, the first full day of peace, there was a holiday spirit among Peiping's 2,000,000 residents. Bazaars were crowded as prices dropped. In preparation for the Chinese New Year (Jan. 29), firecracker makers started working around the clock catching up on time lost during the siege when their wares were banned. Said a shopkeeper on Flower Street: "Now we can have plenty of chaotse (steamed meat dumplings) on New Year's night. If peace had not come, flour would have been too expensive."

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