793.94119/529: Telegram
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Southard) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 10—6 a.m.]
116. This office is reliably informed that there recently came to Hong Kong “to carry on secret peace negotiations with certain Chinese leaders” one Lee Soy, known also as S. Y. Leigh, who is said to be an official adviser to the Governor of Fukien Province. He endeavored to discuss the situation with T. V. Soong40 claiming to have an indirect message from General Ugaki. Soong says he refused to enter into a discussion although the Japanese have, in view of the European situation, made various approaches to him suggesting liberal peace terms. [Page 160] Soong thinks the mention of Ugaki significant and latter would promptly emerge from behind the scenes to handle directly any peace negotiations. Soong has replied to such approaches that Chinese-Japanese peace could be arrived at only as a part of the participation in world settlement. The United States Treasury Agent here very confidentially informs me that he has reported along these lines to his Department in Washington.
Repeated to Amoy, Canton, Shanghai, Chungking, and Peiping for Tokyo.
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bank of China.↩