Hollington K. Tong
To people interested in the history of the Republic of China, this book is a must read. The author Hollington K. Tong was a member of President Chiang Kai-shek’s inner circle. He had detail knowledge of many intriguing events of that time. After the founding of the Republic of China in 1911, the various parts of the country were controlled by many warlords. Chiang’s successful Northern Expedition unified the country. But a civil war with the Communists started and followed by a Japanese invasion and World War II. General Stilwell’s dislike of Chiang influenced a change in American policy towards Free China, which most likely caused the fall of mainland China to the Communists. Miraculously, Free China in Taiwan has survived and prospered to this day.
Hollington K. Tong was from a poor Christian family in China. He graduated in journalism from the University of Missouri and from Columbia University in the early 1900s. Upon returning to China, he worked as a journalist and later became the chief editor of a large English-language newspaper in Shanghai. Due to his proficiency in English, and his honesty and abilities, government officers including President and Madame Chiang Kai-shek often invited him to accompany them on their overseas trips. He was appointed Vice-Minister of Information in 1937.
In 1949, the Communists overran mainland China. The Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan, but was in great danger of falling. During those gloomy years, President Chiang repeatedly sent Tong overseas to assess other nations’ positions towards Free China. From this he stepped into the diplomatic service, first as Ambassador to Japan, then as Ambassador to the United States. In 1958, he retired at the age of 71. He became an active lay Christian preacher in Taiwan and wrote many books.
I was a newspaperman for over three decades. Then during the following two decades, it was my privilege to know historical events from the inside: to work closely with Chiang Kai-shek who had made history during our time. It gave me an unusual chance to observe both the greatness and the weakness of historical figures, and to find some thread of meaning in events that were obscure to others.
My wife’s contention is that in view of the unusualness of my career, I owe it to our children and grandchildren to record these events while I am still able. My wife knows the struggles and hardships of my life and has cheerfully shared them with me. Because so much of my work has been governmental and confidential, I have not been able to share with her many of my thoughts and experiences. During the years when I was in close daily contact with President Chiang Kai-shek, I was under the tacit obligation to keep much of my information to myself, locking it away even from my wife. This created some areas of secrecy between us. As I near the end of my life, the wife who has stood at my side for half a century deserves to know all.
I believe that it will at least have some value as a reflection of the events and problems of China in the twentieth century. Although libraries of books have been written about China, there are still areas of misunderstanding among people. I have lived through fast-moving and deeply tragic Chinese events. The outcomes of these events are still indeterminate as I write. I believe that I can throw some light upon facts and personalities in modern China which are still not clear. It is with this hope that I have acceded to my wife’s request.
