793.94/10968: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 3—4:47 p.m.]
723. Local peace maintenance societies have now been organized in eight districts in Hopei Province including Tientsin, Peiping, and Paotingfu, and Lei Shou Yung, with headquarters at Peiping, has been appointed chief secretary of the group of societies. A chairman has not yet been selected and it is understood that none will be appointed for the time being as Lei will, at least temporarily, be chiefly responsible for administering the work. Lei was one of the go-betweens in the Ho–Umetsu negotiations. He was previously closely identified with Chiang Tso Pin, former Chinese Ambassador to Japan. He is said not to be a member of the Kuomintang and is in many ways an anti-party man. Reports are in circulation that efforts will be made by the Chinese, supported by Japanese advice, to have the contemplated new government in the north owe its allegiance nominally if not actually to the Central Government at Nanking. There is apparently still considerable public opinion in North China favoring peace negotiations but no conditions are being advanced. It is worthy of note that there has been no material advance of Japanese troops toward the south on the Tsinpu and Pinghan railways for a week or 10 days so far as is known. In Shansi, however, the capture of all Chinese positions in the Hsinkouchen sector, with an advance continuing towards Taiyuan, has been announced by the Japanese military; Japanese forces along the Chengtai Railway are pressing on Shouyang, half way between Niangtsekuan and Taiyuan.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Nanking. By courier to Tokyo.