893.00/8781: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 26–10:40 a.m.]
Eugene Ch’en has made public the following statement:
“On Saturday, April 23d, the Minister for Foreign Affairs received the American consul general and a deputation of representative members of the American business company [community?] in Hankow. In reply to a specific question the Minister categorically denied the suggestion that it is or has ever been the policy of the Nationalist Government to destroy foreign trade in China. He pointed out that Dr. Sun Yat-sen had written a considerable book in which it was insisted that foreign capital and assistance was necessary for the efficient development of China. This thesis continues to be an essential part of the economic thought of the Kuomintang and of its leaders and members who are carrying on the work of government at Wuhan. In reply to other questions the Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that it has been difficult to attempt an earlier settlement of the special economic situation in this region of the Yangtze Valley because the entire attention and energies of the Kuomintang and the Nationalist Government had been concentrated during the past three months on the solution of a profoundly grave party issue. Now that this issue had been solved the Government and the party had been addressing themselves to the immediate settlement of the economic question. The Minister outlined the measures which are being taken to assist the restoration of conditions for the conduct of foreign business and trade and he emphasized the fact that labor had resolved to impose on itself revolutionary discipline in order to carry out these measures of the [Page 116] Government. A separate statement will be issued describing these measures in detail and such further action as may be necessary to bring about the immediate restoration of trade conditions within Nationalist territory.”
Legation informed.