793.94119/540: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
Chungking, April 26,
1939—11 a.m.
[Received 11:20 a.m.]
[Received 11:20 a.m.]
290. My 284, April 22, noon.
- 1.
- The unalterable determination of Chiang Kai Shek to continue resistance to Japan until victory is achieved as publicly announced by him on April 18 has received confirmation in statements to McHugh by Donald on April 25. The latter said that the question of peace terms had not been discussed between Chiang and the British Ambassador nor during informant’s daily association with Chiang in recent months had the latter even mentioned the subject which seemed conclusive evidence that it had not even been considered. Informant said that before the British Ambassador went to Peiping in January he had telegraphed asking Donald to ascertain what the attitude of Chiang would be toward the Ambassador’s seeing Wang Keh Min. The result of the inquiry was an instruction to inform Clark Kerr that if Wang were a patriot he would leave his position or get killed in the attempt and that Chiang would have nothing to do with any man who associated with the Japanese.
- 2.
- Informant reported that Chiang had stated privately on April 25 that the present military operations were not the counter offensive he had planned and that he wanted all publicity on the subject stopped because he anticipated that the Japanese with their superior heavy equipment would still be able to crash through in places. Donald explained that Chiang’s plan was to hold off until the Japanese were obviously exhausted and then attack them on all exhausted [fronts?].
- 3.
- McHugh requests same distribution as described at end of Embassy’s 285, April 24, 10 a.m.
Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai. Peiping mail to Tokyo.
Peck