Source 6: Xi'an Incident Aftermath Sapajou (1937) ‘The Lesson of Sian’
A cartoon satirising the problems facing Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalist Party in the aftermath of the Xi'an incident. This contrasts strongly with images evoking a public outpouring of support for the Generalissimo. The writing etched on the planks reads: 'freedom of the press,' 'military audit,' 'government continuity,' 'civil service,' 'proper supervision,' and 'helplessness'. The cartoonist here depicts Chiang Kai-Shek attempting to 'mend' these various problems facing his government.
Sapajou
North China Daily News
Richard Rigby (2010) Sapajou's Shanghai in China Heritage Quarterly http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/features.php?searchterm=022_sapajou.inc&issue=022
1937
Cartoon
Source 5: The Eight Demands
The eight conditions elaborated by Zhang Xueliang to secure the release of Chiang Kai-Shek.
• Establish a coalition government that would contain both Nationalist and Communist members
• Halt all fighting between Nationalist and Communist forces
• Release all politicians being kept captive in Shanghai
• Release all political prisoners
• Allow anti-Japanese demonstrations
• Guarantee political freedom to all Chinese citizens
• Govern China according to the will of Dr. Sun Yatsen
• Immediately gather leaders of both parties to discuss ways to deal with Japanese aggression
World War Two Database, Peter Chen.
1936
text
Source 4: Anon (1936) Crowds celebrate the release of Chiang Kai-Shek Photograph: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Taipei.
Celebrations following the release of Chiang Kai-Shek in Xi'an
Whilst in later years, Chiang Kai-Shek's disregard for public approval and poor use of propaganda would prove a fatal error, he certainly enjoyed an outpouring of public sympathy in the aftermath of the Xi'an incident as the photograph of this parade demonstrates. Having changed his policy towards Japan, the majority of the public viewed him as the natural leader of China giving him a stronger mandate to govern.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei.
1936
Photograph
Source 3: Soviet Influence Edgar Snow (1936-45) Random Notes on Red China- The Xi’an Incident
The influence of the Soviet Union over the peaceful resolution of the Xi'an incident.
The chief reason why Zhang Xueliang so quickly released Chiang Kai-Shek, without having obtained Chiang’s acceptance of his demands, was because of the unexpected attitude adopted by the Chinese Reds at Sian. The latter, who had earlier supported for a long detention and even a public trial for Chiang, abruptly urged his release after he had verbally agreed to only one of the rebels eight demands, - to end the civil war.
There is no doubt that Soviet Russia influenced this quick disposition of the Sian affair, and that Moscow was quite pleased with the peaceful settlement that restored Chiang to power. The Russian Communists feared that the elimination of Chiang Kai-shek would result in a protracted civil war in which the Japanese might succeed in turning the Nanking government into a real Franco regime of the East. China would thereby not only be rendered strategically valueless to, but a potential belligerent against, the Soviet Union.
Whatever Chiang did or did not promise before he was released, the practical result was to end civil war. On Christmas Day the Young Marshal escorted the Generalissimo unharmed back to Nan king. The Generalissimo quietly called off the anti-Red offensive and personally authorized negotiations with the Reds. Officially, the Kuomintang now announced that the first task before the country was "the recovery of the lost territories," whereas formerly Chiang had always insisted upon "internal pacification"—annihilation of the Reds—as "the first task.
Chiang Kai-shek never forgave Chang Hsueh-Liang and never freed him. Thirty years later Chang was still Chiang Kai-shek's personal prisoner on Taiwan.
During the Resistance War, Yang Hu-Cheng offered his services to the Generalissimo. General Yang was put under house detention in Chungking, and toward the end of the war he was secretly executed.’
Edgar Snow
1936-1945
Book
Source 2: Edgar Snow (1936) Red Star Over China
Edgar Snow was an American journalist who spent several months living with and interviewing members of the Chinese Communist Party at their bases in Bao’an and Yan’an. He was present in China during the Xi’an incident. Here, before the incident occurred, Snow asks Mao Zedong how the Japanese can be defeated
“Under what conditions do you think the Chinese people can defeat and exhaust the forces of Japan?” I asked.
He replied: “Three conditions will guarantee our success: first, the achievement of the National United Front against Japanese imperialism in China; second, the formation of a World Anti-Japanese United Front; third, revolutionary action by the oppressed peoples at present suffering under Japanese imperialism. Of these, the central necessity is the union of the Chinese people themselves.” (p.92)
Edgar Snow
English
Source 1 Sapajou (1927) The Moscow Teacher: — ‘And what do you think of your father, Chiang Kai-shek, the traitor?’
Controversy surrounding Chiang Kai-Shek's policy of 'internal pacification against external aggression.'
A cartoon satirising Chiang Kai-Shek's son, Chiang Ching-Kuo who was studying in Moscow and firmly opposed to his father's policy of annihilating the Chinese Communist Party. Chiang Kai-shek's son, at school in Moscow, is said to have published an article denouncing his father's anti-Communist campaign.
Sapajou
North China Daily News
Richard Rigby (2010) Sapajou's Shanghai in China Heritage Quarterly http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/features.php?searchterm=022_sapajou.inc&issue=022
1927
Cartoon
English