893.00/13187: Telegram

The Second Secretary of Legation in China ( Atcheson ) to the Secretary of State

249. My 247, August 20, 2 p.m.

1.
Wang Ching-wei arrived in Nanking at 7 this morning to meet with Chiang Kai-shek. It is understood that Wang originally desired the meeting to be at Shanghai or Hangchow out of considerations of “face” but acceded to Chiang’s urgent request that he come here without delay. Other important Government officials who are reported to have returned to Nanking include Ho Ying-chin; Chiang Tso-pin;76 the Presidents of the Judicial and Central [Control?] Yuans; Chu Min-yi, resigned Secretary General of the Executive Yuan; Tang Yu-jen, Administrative Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Huang Fu. Wu Teh-chen, Mayor of Shanghai, is said to be coming here today. It is reported that the Minister of the Navy has submitted his resignation and that the Executive Yuan has rejected it.
2.
Rumors that Chang Chun may be sent to Japan on a special mission in connection with Sino-Japanese affairs (see Hankow’s 50 [39], August 19, 1 p.m.77) are believed to have arisen out of a plan conceived several weeks ago whereby Chang would proceed to Tokyo to put frank questions to Japanese Government leaders concerning Japanese aims and plans in China and to endeavor to obtain categorical answers. He sent his family to Japan earlier in the summer but his own journey thither was postponed and the plan may now have been abandoned. Authoritative information concerning it is lacking.
3.
The situation vis-à-vis the southwest faction remains obscure. A spirit of optimism concerning the relations between Nanking and Canton now obtains here in Chinese official circles but I am reliably informed that Huang’s mission to Kwangtung and Kwangsi has so far not had any concrete results in respect to the effectuation of an actual rapprochement. The press reports that Hu Han-min will return to China early in September and that Wang Chung-hui will [Page 338] also return shortly. Li Shao-sen, a member of the Southwest Political Council and a close associate of Hu was recently named Vice Minister of Personnel in the Nanking Government and I am now informed that Li has had published in the Shanghai vernacular press at advertising rates a spacious [specious?] announcement that this appointment was made without his being consulted, the publication of this announcement presumably being to avoid accusations by his colleagues in Canton that he has “gone over” to the Central Government.
4.
To the Legation and Department, to Tokyo by mail.
Atcheson
  1. Chinese Ambassador in Japan.
  2. Not printed.