893.00/13973: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, February 15, 1937—6
p.m.
[Received February 15—5:02 p.m.]
[Received February 15—5:02 p.m.]
61. Reference Embassy’s 54, February 8, 5 p.m.
- 1.
- Local Japanese news agencies publish reports expressing apprehension that the third plenary session of the Central Executive Committee, which opened today at Nanking, will discuss three questions concerning North China; namely, (a) abolition of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, (b) return to Chinese control of the autonomous area of East Hopei, and (c) return to Chinese control of North Chahar, the purpose being the extension of power in North China of the National Government.
- 2.
- Some local Chinese believe that these questions will be discussed at the session. They think that it will discuss also the question of appointing Sung Che Yuan to a post at Nanking in order to indicate Chinese unity and of giving control of Hopei and Chahar to Sung’s subordinates, Chin Teh Chun and Chang Tzu Chung, the mayors of Peiping and Tientsin respectively.
- 3.
- It seems unlikely that the National Government will take definite action on these matters without first obtaining the consent of the Japanese, which would be given, if at such time, only in return for significant concessions.
- 4.
- Chin Teh Chun, who is representing Sung Che Yuan at the plenary session, is said to have taken with him a proposal from Sung that communism be fundamentally suppressed. This proposal may be due to Sung’s feeling that he ought to propose something rather than nothing; or it may be due to a desire to evade Japanese pressure for a local agreement with regard to suppression of communism.
By mail to Tokyo.
Lockhart