793.00/299

The Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the Chinese Embassy9

At the conclusion of the emergency session of the Kuomintang (National Party) National Congress today there was issued a manifesto defining China’s foreign and domestic policies.

In regard to the hostilities with Japan the Manifesto says that the security of the northern Provinces means the security of China as a whole. If they cannot be preserved, not only the hope of a reasonable settlement of the question of the four north-eastern Provinces will be forever lost, but the whole territory of China will virtually be gone. “Our final object is peace, which has been the basis of our policy. But the peace we value is the peace founded upon justice. The peace patched up at the expense of justice is no peace at all. It is mere surrender.” The hope for peaceful co-existence between [Page 134] China and Japan cannot be fulfilled until Japan has courageously forsaken her misguided plans and abandoned her policy of aggression, and cooperates with China for the re-establishment of peace on the basis of righteousness and justice. Meanwhile, the struggle must be continued. China is determined not to stop at any sacrifice that may be necessary.

China’s foreign relations are governed by two principles: firstly, China will scrupulously respect all the treaties for the maintenance of peace whereto she is a party and unflinchingly defend their sanctity and inviolability; and secondly, China will seek not only to preserve but further promote the friendly relations with other Powers. “At this time of unprecedented national calamity we realise all the more that we should not entertain any false hopes of miraculous happenings, nor entirely count upon foreign assistance, but instead we should rescue ourselves and carry on our struggle by dint of our own efforts amidst whatever difficulties and privations.”

Turning to internal problems, the Manifesto says that the guiding principles for building up new China are the San Min Chu I (the Three People’s Principles). China must proceed with the struggle of self-defence simultaneously with the task of national reconstruction. Prior to the promulgation of the permanent Constitution, the Government should set up the organs of participation by the people in public affairs. Efforts should be directed not only towards the maintenance of rural economy but towards its active improvement. Three points are of great importance: first, the entire nation must practice the greatest of economy in accumulating the capital, secondly, all industrial plans must be directed toward one goal, namely, China’s victory, and thirdly, the Government should carry out the planned economy in accordance with the San Min Chu I. The task of carrying on the hostilities and national reconstruction simultaneously seems difficult, but its final achievement is sure if we preserve our internal solidarity and oneness of purpose.

Among the important resolutions the Congress adopted were the one calling for the creation of the People’s Political Council to enable the people to participate in public affairs, and another setting up Tsung Chai (Director-General) and Fu Tsung Chai (Deputy Director-General) within the Kuomintang and General Chiang Kai-shek and Mr. Wang Ching-wei were elected thereto respectively. The Congress also adopted a political platform for the Government’s guidance during the period of armed resistance. The platform stipulates that the San Min Chu I shall be the guiding principles of the national thought and re-affirms the freedom of speech, publication and assembly within the bounds of law.

  1. Copy of telegram transmitted to the Secretary of State by the Chinese Ambassador under covering letter of April 4.