893.00/3093
The Consul General at Shanghai ( Sammons ) to the Minister in China ( Reinsch )45
Sir: I have the honor to report the resumption today of the Internal Peace Conference. While Tong Shao-yi, the chief of the [Page 342] Southern Delegation, is not entirely satisfied with reference to the cessation of hostilities in Shensi Province, he has decided to join in the holding of informal, secret meetings. It would seem that both the Northern and the Southern Delegations feel that the continuance of the publicity feature of the conference would, at this time, tend to prejudice the object which it is desired should be obtained.
In the meantime, the Shanghai Times, (accepted as being pro-Japanese in its policies), in particular, continues editorially to question the sincerity of Tong Shao-yi as the leader of the Southern Delegation. This newspaper procedure on the part of the Shanghai Times, in which it is supported, at times, by the North China Daily News (British), seems to be calculated to foment misunderstanding between the Northern and the Southern Delegations.
I have [etc.]
- Copy forwarded to the Department by the Consul General under covering letter of same date; received May 12.↩