893.00/14042
The Consul General at Shanghai ( Gauss ) to the Ambassador in China ( Johnson )27
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith as of possible interest to the Embassy the substance of an address28 delivered by General Wu [Page 17] Te-chen, Mayor of the Municipality of Greater Shanghai, to a large audience of Chinese at the Civic Center on January 5, 1937. It will be observed that the Mayor, who is noted for his antipathy for Communism, endeavored in strong and clear terms to expose what he considered the specious arguments and fallacies behind the Sian crisis and to remove any misconceptions that might be harbored by the public.
It will be noted that the Mayor termed the “popular front” an invention of the Comintern to be used to attain power for that group, and that its succession to power would be the signal for dissension and the commencement of a class struggle in China similar to that waged in Spain. He strongly advocated the continued suppression of the Communists and urged that the people unite in their support of the present Government and not to seek salvation in foreign panaceas and foreign saviors.
In the light of the above address it will be recalled that the Mayor has been a relentless enemy of radical and even of what might be termed “liberal” activities at Shanghai. A strong campaign has been waged against Communism; the patriotic movement of the students has been curbed, particularly in late 1935; the suppression of reactionary publications and confiscation of such literature has been adhered to; and the activities of the national salvation associations have been closely curbed, culminating in the detention of seven prominent national salvation leaders in late November 1936.
Lending significance to Mayor Wu’s utterances are the public statements made by Mr. Wang Ching-wei, Chairman of the Central Political Council, since his return from Europe on January 14th. In a speech at the Central Party Headquarters at Nanking on January 18th Mr. Wang delivered a telling indictment against Communism and against the policy that resistance to outside aggression should have precedence over stabilization of internal peace and order. He questioned the sincerity of the Communist Party and, after citing the broken pledges of the latter since 1924, declared that “it was not the Kuomintang which had misplaced its trust but it was the Communist Party which had broken faith.” On the evening of January 22nd Mr. Wang reiterated his attack against Communism in a broadcast speech and declared that “only the Kuomintang is capable of uniting the masses.” With aggression pressing from the outside and with the Communists pressing from within, Mr. Wang believes that the only way out for China is to support the original policy of the Government and to work together for its realization. If that support could be achieved no reactionists or militarists would be able to undermine the program for the salvation of China. Subsequently, in what was purported to be an interview with the Shanghai Times (British), Mr. Wang stated it to be his belief [Page 18] that conciliation and economic reconstruction are the best methods of securing internal peace, but that if conciliation failed then force must be used, and that China could not tolerate a Communist dominated “popular front.”
A review of the statements of these two leaders would seem to indicate that the Chinese Government is still committed to its policy of eradicating Communism in China and that that policy has precedence over resistance to outside aggression, which, however, would be undertaken in the event it became necessary to make what is termed the “final sacrifice.” While compromise with the Sian rebels is desired, no quarter can be given to the tenets of Communism. This is also believed generally to represent the views of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, although it may be taken as significant that he has made no public pronouncement of his views since his return from Sian, where it is possible that his views were subject to modification. In any event, it is generally conceded in local quarters that he has worked unceasingly for a peaceful settlement of the Sian imbroglio, and that it is barely possible he would be amenable to an agreement with the Chinese Communists in Shensi and Kansu to maintain the status quo so that the energy of the Government could be devoted to internal reconstruction and defense in anticipation of outside aggression. It is commonly believed that these momentous issues are now receiving the undivided attention of the Generalissimo as he ponders at his native place near Fenghua, and that an indication of his views and decisions will be afforded at the third plenary session of the Central Executive Committee to be held in Nanking on February 15th, when it is generally conceded that the National Government will be reorganized to make place for leaders sympathetic with the policies finally decided upon.
Respectfully yours,