893.20/122
The Consul at Nanking (Adams) to the Minister in China (MacMurray)49
Sir: Because of the vital relation which the success or failure of the Chinese army disbandment program bears to the ultimate fate of the present National Government, I have the honor to report upon the National Military Reorganization and Disbandment Enforcement Conference which occurred in Nanking from August 1 to 6, inclusive.
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In conclusion it may be stated that there seems an evident sincerity in the endeavor of the central authorities of the National Government to bring down to reasonable proportions the huge military forces of the country. But any remote chance of success which the plan may have is largely dependent in the first instance upon the good faith, energy and administrative ability of quite a number of widely distributed military officers in the past given [giving] only a nominal allegiance to the National Government. Even granting that these officers may faithfully carry out a plan which, if successfully executed, must destroy their independence and definitely subordinate them to the National Government, there remains the question of the absorption of more than a million men in the civil life of a country already bandit ridden principally because of destitution and famine. To all present appearances there has been an utter failure on the part of Chiang Kai-shek to realize the necessity of emphasizing above all else in his disbandment plan an adequate and workable provision for the employment of the huge numbers of men whose disbandment is contemplated.
I have [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Consul in his despatch No. D–19, August 19; received September 14, 1929.↩