893.00/7397: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
Peking, May 14,
1926—7 p.m.
[Received 8:05 p.m.]
[Received 8:05 p.m.]
208. My 201, May 4, 6 p.m.
- 1.
- As foreshadowed in paragraph 3 of the above telegram the following mandates, dated May 13th, appeared today bearing Presidential seal, “by the Cabinet acting,” and countersigned by Yen as Premier: (a) Relieving of their portfolios all members of Yen 1924 cabinet except Yen, Premier, Wellington Koo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chang Kuo-kan, Minister of Justice; (b) transferring Koo to be Minister of Finance; (c) appointing Alfred Sze Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cheng Ch’ien, Interior, Chang Ching-hui, War, Tu Hsi-kwei, Navy, Wang Ch’ung-hui, Education, Yang Wen-kai, Agriculture and Commerce, Chang Chih-tan, Communications; (d) directing Yen to act concurrently as Minister of Foreign Affairs pending arrival of Sze.
- 2.
- An announcement with Cabinet seal has likewise been promulgated, stating that in view of President Tsao Kun’s circular telegram of resignation May 1st, the Cabinet would henceforth perform duties of President as provided by law.
- 3.
- Although Cabinet appointees include representatives of Sun Ch’uan-fang, Chang Tso-lin and Wu Pei-fu, the support of Sun and Chang is not assured and I understand Wu’s support is more nominal than effective. Lacking thus all real power it is hard to see what substantial results will follow appearance of these mandates except such recognition as may be accorded by the foreign powers, although in my opinion the new Cabinet possesses scarcely more than a color of legality. There is no other more qualified claimant to authority and I see no prospect of emergence of a government for a long time to come if this attempt fails. I respectfully request authorization in my discretion to deal with the Yen cabinet on a de facto basis if it gives satisfactory assurances as to the observance of treaty rights and if the representatives of principal power[s] decide to act likewise.
- 4.
- A week ago Yen issued a circular telegram boldly giving as the condition of his heading a cabinet, universal support of a policy of troop disbandment, restoration of Central Government revenues and restoration of transportation facilities. I have seen no evidence that the provincial militarists have pledged support to this policy and Yen seems to have displayed courage if not temerity in attempting his task of reviving a government under these conditions.
MacMurray