893.00/12534: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 23—12:05 a.m.]
870. Following telegram has been received from Vice Consul at Foochow:
“November 22, 5 p.m. New government formally established this morning when the members took oath. Highest authority of the new government invested in a central committee of 11 members, 6 of whom are Nineteenth Route Army adherents. Under this committee are 3 departments and 2 ministries. The departments are Culture, Defense, and Economics; headed by Chen Ming-shu, Li Chai-sum, and Chiang Kuang-nai, respectively. Eugene Chen is Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Finance Minister has not yet been appointed. The country is known as the Chinese People’s Republic and the government as the Chinese People’s Revolutionary Government. Li [Page 469] Chai-sum is concurrently President of the People’s Republic and Chiang Kuang-nai is concurrently Governor of Fukien.
The new national flag was displayed over all government buildings today; also throughout the city by order of the police.
The new government is opposed oy practically all classes of Fukienese here and has been set up by compulsion.
Friction is reported to have already broken out between the militarists and politicians over control. Foochow quiet.”