793.94/7444: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
Nanking, November 27, 1935—2
p.m.
[Received November 27—1 p.m.]
[Received November 27—1 p.m.]
113. My 111, November 26, 6 [3] p.m.
- 1.
- I asked Suma this morning what results he thought would follow steps taken by the Government on November 26. Brief summary of his comments follows: The measures in question are a “unilateral solution” of the problem presented by the Japanese Ambassador to Chiang Kai-shek on November 20 (see my 103, November 21 [22], 10 a.m.,57 paragraph 2) and are not calculated to obviate future difficulties in Sino-Japanese relations. The appointment of Sung as Pacification Commissioner for Hopei and Chahar will not meet with acquiescence of Chahar Chairman Hsiao. While abolition of the Branch Military Council simplifies the situation somewhat the appointment of General Ho as Executive Yuan representative will merely restore unsatisfactory features of the regime of Huang Fu since Ho will have to appeal constantly to Nanking for instructions and the appointment does not meet the need for a special form of administration for the Peiping area as represented to Chiang Kai-shek by the Japanese Ambassador on November 20; moreover judging from the refusal of Ho to return to his Branch Military Council post in Peiping during the last 3 months it is doubtful whether he will accept this new appointment. The demand for autonomy in the Peiping area is upheaving and widespread and the Yin Ju-keng and Tientsin movements of November 24–25 were genuine manifestations of the popular desire for autonomy. Any attempt by Nanking to arrest Yin in order to succeed must involve force and although Suma has been earnestly endeavoring to ward off trouble, nevertheless, if these autonomy movements are suppressed by force serious trouble cannot but follow. The Government’s measures of November 26 ignored financial maladministration in the Peiping area, for example, the use of Hopei provincial funds for the support of the forces of Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang.
- 2.
- Suma observed somewhat sarcastically that Leith-Ross happens to be in North China and is exhibiting great curiosity regarding events.
- 3.
- Repeated to the Department and Peiping, by mail to Tokyo.
Peck