793.94/14531: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:47 p.m.]
608. Further reference Department’s No. 4, October 24, 7 p.m., to Hong Kong and Embassy’s 514, October 26, 11 a.m. The Embassy learns from Arthur Young68 that the following reasons are advanced [Page 425] in Chinese official circles for the ease with which the Japanese invasion of South China was accomplished:
- 1.
- The Chinese conviction that the Japanese would not strike at Canton for fear of international complications.
- 2.
- The consequent despatch of the bulk of the regular Cantonese army to the north for participation in the defense of Hankow leaving the defense of Kwangtung to local militia.
- 3.
- The surprise and speed with which the attack was executed.
- 4.
- The completeness of Japanese preparations in which extremely strong artillery and aviation support played a leading part; and the ineptitude of the South China military leadership.
He stated there was positively no evidence of Chinese treachery. He added that following commencement of attack on Canton the Generalissimo transferred an unknown number of troops from the Hankow area to South China but that this move came too late to stem the invasion, although further Japanese advances into western and northern Kwangtung were thereby prevented. However, this diversion of troops to the south was alleged to have hastened the fall of Hankow by 2 months.
- American adviser to the Chinese Ministry of Finance.↩