Office of the Historian

893.00/13517: Telegram

The Consul General at Canton (Spiker) to the Secretary of State

Canton, June 6, 1936—noon.
[Received 11 p.m.]

Referring to my telegram of June 5, 5 p.m.,21 and previous communications, local government controlled press today published manifesto issued by Marshals Chen and Li, Pai Chung Hsi and senior officers of the First and Fourth Group Armies. The manifesto is addressed to the Kuomintang Central Executive Committee, the National Government, the Military Affairs Commission, the Southwest Executive Committee and Southwest Political Council and states that Japan’s aggression is now at its height, that the two armies have no choice but to rise and offer armed resistance; that their commanders and officers accordingly [beg?] and crave that they be given orders to proceed north under a new standard and face the enemy; that they are “of one heart and mind in this proclamation of the inexorable attitude.”

2.
Newspapers further publish following resolution adopted at joint meeting yesterday of the Southwest Executive Committee and Southwest Political Council, Marshals Chen and Li and other high military and civil officials participating: “Resolved that instructions be issued to the First and the Fourth Group Armies; that preparations should be made for mobilization against the Japanese; and that the armies shall be renamed the Chinese Revolutionary Anti-Japan National Salvation Army”. It is reported that beginning this morning military units in Canton started wearing brassards bearing new designation.
3.
Source of information quoted in first sentence of my telegram of June 5, 5 p.m. today insisted that Kwangtung and Kwangsi forces actually moving northward through southern Hunan. No local confirmation of this report obtainable. Source further alleged that Hunan and Yunnan have signified intention to join Southwest in present movement.
4.
Local exchange late yesterday depreciated to 204 for Hong Kong dollar then suddenly rose to 177 and has since remained steady.
5.
Other details follow by land wire.
Spiker
  1. Not printed.↩