793.94/7207: Telegram
The Second Secretary of Legation in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
216. 1. I am informed by a Chinese official of Cabinet rank that Chiang Kai-shek has yielded to Japanese pressure and pleas of government leaders for a more definitive direction of affairs than is possible from Szechuan and that he now plans to come to Nanking August 6th. Suma recently reiterated the statement of other Japanese spokesmen that Chiang must shortly declare himself without equivocation in respect to Sino-Japanese issues “or it would be the worse for him” and if Chiang actually arrives it is expected that the probable future trend of Sino-Japanese developments in the Yangtze Valley and elsewhere in China will become more clearly delineated. It seems generally believed in Chinese official circles that whatever open stand Chiang may take, he will continue in this general policy of attempting to consolidate the west and of preparing to resist the Japanese by force if they attempt to extend their hegemony into the Yangtze Provinces. But the National Government itself is imbued with defeatism; the belief is prevalent that it is too late to fight and it is feared that if Chiang should order resistance the Japanese will destroy his military in this region and the present government personnel will be replaced by officials selected by whatever military man is subsequently permitted by the Japanese to be in control here. It is noteworthy that rumors persistently state that numbers of Chinese officials and politicians are making overtures to the Japanese looking to Japanese influence to secure them appointments if and when Japan moves to dominate the National Government.
2. One internal development now envisaged by several highly placed sources is that the failure of Wang Ching-wei to obviate Chiang’s reported capitulations to Japanese wishes that he come to Nanking will mean the termination of Wang’s political career in the present government whether or not Wang recovers from his illness.
3. Otherwise the situation here has not recently been distinguished by any clear-cut political developments. It has been my impression that government leaders have looked for a respite perhaps of some weeks’ duration before any new crisis should arise either vis-à-vis Japan or in domestic politics. They appear to have been waiting, as apparently have also the Japanese, for Chiang to take a decisive open stand in respect to Sino-Japanese issues and there are indications that Chinese official circles have in a sense been coming to share [Page 321] the view of the Japanese spokesman mentioned above. They have appreciated Chiang’s desire to dissociate himself from any openly controlling connection with Sino-Japanese problems but they have come to realize that Chiang must declare himself unequivocally if further major international difficulties are to be avoided or if he himself is to maintain his predominant position in Chinese affairs.
4. The foreign press in Shanghai has published reports which appear to have emanated from a Japanese daily there of a probable change in the mayoralty of Shanghai and a reallotment of the chairmanships of Anhwei, Chekiang, Hupeh and Fukien and I have been informed by a reliable official Chinese source that a reshuffling of these provincial posts was being considered at the suggestion or request of the Japanese. I have, however, been unable to confirm this latter statement; it may well have resulted from the recent meetings here and in Shanghai of the Provincial Chairmen of Fukien, Kiangsi, Chekiang and Hupeh military [sic]. I have seen no indication that Chinese Government circles entertain any immediate fear that prognosticated Japanese activities in the Yangtze Valley have as yet extensively commenced.
5. I am informed by an official source close to an important government leader that no new appointments to Wang’s concurrent posts are likely for some time. Kung will continue to function as acting head of the Executive Yuan and the two Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs will direct the Foreign Office. This source states that an invitation will be sent to Hu Han-min to join the Government and that Hu is expected to nominate Wang Chung-hui in his stead. It seems too early, however, for schemes of this nature to be accepted as plans which are probable of consummation, since prior developments in major international issues are likely to intervene and dictate an entirely different course of action.
6. Both sections repeated to Department and Peiping. To Tokyo by mail.
- Telegram in two sections.↩