893.01 Provisional/150: Telegram
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:17 p.m.]
165. Yesterday afternoon a Chinese, whose card indicated that he was chief of the Bureau of Protocol of the Foreign Office of the “Reformed Government,” called, this being the first call received by this office from any official of that government. He said that Liang Hung Chih, President of the Executive Yuan and head of the government, would give a reception on October 10 at which foreigners would be welcome. He added that he realized our Government had not recognized the “Reformed Government” and that it would therefore be difficult for me to attend in an official capacity, but he expressed the hope that I could attend as a private individual. It seemed evident from his conversation that he expected no foreign officials, except Japanese, to attend, and as no statement from me was asked for or seemed necessary I made none.
The general question of calls on and relations with officials of new regimes is dealt with in telegrams between the Department and Peiping, the most recent on record here being Peiping’s 125, February 23, noon, and the Department’s 74, March 10, 4 p.m.,27 but the question of attending functions does not appear to have been definitely determined. I believe, however, that it would not be advisable or necessary for me to attend the reception on October 10, even in a private capacity, as the presence of an American official, which would no doubt be reported in the local press, would be regarded, at least by the general public, as an indication of approval if not recognition of the new regime and would be bitterly resented by Chinese here, apart from those connected with the new regime. Unless otherwise instructed, I will not attend.
The British and German Consuls, the only other foreign officials now in Nanking apart from the Japanese, received calls from the Chinese above mentioned, but they do not propose to attend the function.
I also received a call yesterday from a Chinese, representing himself to be a secretary in the new municipal government, who handed me the new Mayor’s card. During the casual conversation with him I inquired whether the Mayor’s office was busy, to which he made the illuminating reply “oh, no, the Japanese do everything.”
Practically all officials of the “New Government” have now arrived in Nanking and are busy establishing themselves in office quarters, [Page 312] not an easy task as many of the suitable buildings have already been taken over by various Japanese organs. Furthermore, tenure is uncertain; the Foreign Office, for example, which settled down some time ago in spacious quarters, was unceremoniously ejected a few days ago by the Japanese Special Service Section, which desired to use the premises, and has been forced to remove to less suitable offices.
Sent to Shanghai, repeated to Department, Peiping.