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MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK
Forgotten
"Woman of the Century"
S
HE HAO BEEN
variously called
' 'the brains of China," "first
lady of China" and "one of the most
influential women of the century."
From the l930s until 1967 Ma–
dame Chiang Kai-shek's name ap–
peared on the list of the 1
O
most
admired women in the world. Today,
she is an all but forgotten figure.
We do not think the readers
of
The
Plain
Truth
should forget her histor–
ie role in a time when sorne of the last
great personalities of World War
ll-Marshal Josip Broz Tito for
example-are passing from the
scene.
Have you ever considered how
important to God the feminine per–
sonality is in molding character? I t is
God who gave woman, under man,
the primary role in molding chil–
dren's character in the borne. Sorne,
as Madame Chiang, molded an
entire generation.
lt
was her feminine personality–
charming, gracious, yet strong–
minded and articulate-before the
West, especially before the American
Congress and public, that aroused
admiration and sympathy fór her
country in its struggle with Japan
from 1937 to 1945.
On her many trips to the United
States in the postwar era she acted as
spokesman for the Nationalist gov–
ernment and won continuing aid and
moral support.
Youngest daughter (named May–
ling) of the ricb aild powerful Soong
family, she was college educated in
America, 1914-1917. Shereturned to
China, met the Generalissimo, then a
trusted disciple, later to be heir, of
Sun Yat-sen (her brother-in-law),
founder of the Chinese Republic. She
marrled Chiang in 1927.
Her Westernized and Christian
views modified and redirected her
busband's stern outlook in a nation
struggling to come out of feudalism.
She was a power behind the
throne. In the graft-plagued politics
of China in the 1930s, Chiang could
trust no one but bis wife to deal with
foreign salesmen to get the best bar–
gains in high priority military items.
She accompanied her husband on
many military campaigns. S he estab–
lished schools for war orphans and
founded women's relief and war–
support organizations. She wrote sev–
era! books and many articles on
China for consumption in the West.
After the Nationalist army was
pushed off the mainland by the com–
munist armies in 1949, she used her
unflagging confidence and belief in
liberty to mobilize the spirit of For–
mosans (Taiwanese). Madame
Chiang would accept no attitudes of
defeatism.
Her influence on U.S.-China policy
is mínima! now. In 1978 the United
States signaled its intention lo swing
official recognition away from the
Republic of Nationalist China- a
faithful ally and highly successful
showcase of capitalism-to the
People's RepublicofChina. Moreand
more the United States is leaning on
the People's Republic to counter–
baJanceRussian influence in Asia.
Madame Chiang today resides in
the United States.
Madame Chiang Kai-shek with
her personalit;y, charm and percep–
tiveness represents a quality of lead–
ership rapidly vanishing from the
world scene.
-Donald D. Schroeder
PREVAILING PERSONALITY,
Mme.
Chíang at 1927 wedding to Genera/íssi–
mo; 1945 broadcast giving thanks to
American people for war relíef aid; and
at 1976 memorial service for husband
in Taiwan.