893.00/12923: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:25 p.m.]
14. Reference Legation’s 11, January 9, 3 p.m., the following from the Consul General at Hankow:
“January 11, 5 p.m. Your January 9, 2 p.m., and January 11, 2 p.m. No recent information. Capture by Reds of Tsunyi and Meitan was definitely confirmed to me by Governor Chang Ch’un. He stated that the National Government will send five or six divisions to Szechwan ‘if necessary.’ Other information is that Szechwan troops plus National Government forces now in Szechwan borders will endeavor to prevent Reds from Kweichow entering the province and that decision whether additional National Government forces are sent will depend on recommendations of general staff corps now en route Chungking. Reported that Chiang Kai-shek will establish headquarters at Ichang.
Opinion is that Reds from Kweichow will not penetrate into Szechwan soon.
Copies of letters of warnings to Americans in Szechwan forwarded to the Legation with despatch of January 8th. I shall take no further action at present.”
From information received from other sources the Legation is not inclined to share Josselyn’s opinion that the Reds from Kweichow will [Page 666] not soon penetrate into Szechwan. It is reported that Reds are opposed on Szechwan border only by unreliable provincial troops. Josselyn has been informed of Legation’s view and instructed to follow situation most carefully.
It appears from a despatch just now from Hankow that warning notices were sent by that office to Americans in Szechwan on November 20 and December 27.