Office of the Historian

793.94119/527: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, April 8, 1939—10 a.m.
[Received April 8—8:10 a.m.]

247. Peiping’s 172, April 5, 2 p.m.37 Wang Ching Wei’s utterances of March 27 (of whose authenticity there exists no doubt locally), [Page 159] coupled with the publication of the Ta Kung Pao article (even though its veracity is open to doubt) concerning his alleged machinations with the Japanese (Embassy’s 238, April 5, 10 a.m.38), will mean in the opinion of the Embassy the abandonment of efforts employed by the Chinese authorities since his departure from Chungking to obtain assurances that he will refrain from activities opposed to the continuation of resistance. It seems probable that the Chinese authorities will ignore his recent pronouncement on the ground that to refute his contentions (which are regarded in official quarters as anything but convincing) would lend undeserved importance to the matter and perhaps lead to further undignified and profitless controversy.

Wang’s future moves probably will have little influence on the policy of the National Government in relation to the continuance of hostilities which from all indications continues to be based on the Generalissimo’s statement of December 2639 (Embassy’s despatch number 122, January 2438). It is generally felt in Government circles that Wang’s following is small and that his activities since his departure from Chungking have antagonized rather than endeared him to any vocal segment of the Chinese people.

There is, however, much speculation locally as to Wang’s future moves, the general feeling being that Wang will not at this time align himself with the existing puppet regimes nor participate with the Japanese in the formation of any new regime.

Repeated to Peiping, Peiping mail to Tokyo.

Peck
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. See telegram No. 622, December 27, 1938, 10 a.m., from the Chargé in China, Foreign Relations, 1938, Vol. iii, p. 436.↩
  4. Not printed.↩