The US Columbia University's Rare Edition Manuscripts Library is reported going to release en masse Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's oral account of history on file to mark the 101st anniversary of the general's birth.

Many precious historical materials involved

The echoes found are by no means small to Chinese historians for this oral account evidencing the life of Mr. Chang known to China's modern history. What people care most at this, it goes without saying, are new historical revelations from the Xi'an Incident closely related to this great man known in China's history.

Chang Hsueh-liang's oral account is by itself a rich precious record of history and life of Mr. Chang. As told by Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's verbal account, a wealth of historical materials will be made known to people the world over and the Chinese people as well by his large correspondence with and letters from such historical personages as Chiang Kai-shek, Soong Mei-ling and Kong Xiang-xi of the past.

Materials long kept from public eye such as those of photos with his wife, his collection of curiosities, paintings, documents, work diary, records on visits made and talks granted are no lack. It is told that as had been formerly agreed, the Rare Edition Manuscripts Library is going to have its collection of Mr. Chang's released on the anniversary of his 101st birthday in 2002 and used or reviewed by appointment on a study purpose from June 5 on this year.

Important significance

Zhang Youkun, vice chairman and research fellow of Chang Hsueh-liang Study Society under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told news media that he is most happy to know that the Rare Edition Manuscripts Library is going to release Chang Hsueh-liang's verbal account record since his death last year.

As shown by his oral account people will find in Mr. Chang a patriot and his life long in captivity. So, high credit must go to Zhang Zhiyu and Zhang Zhibin for their three years of scholarly study in helping the world readership with a full record of Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's oral account put out, he said.

Professor Yang Kuisong with the Faculty of History of Beijing University also tells how he feels about Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's oral account going to be released and said that it must be claimed as a complete systematic work of historical academic significance.

To that effect, this must be the first instance of like efforts made though Mr. Chang had on different occasions during his lifetime talked about his reminiscences of the Xi'an Incident.

( June 4, 2002)