793.94/15080: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, June 10,
1939—1 p.m.
[Received 5:50 p.m.]
[Received 5:50 p.m.]
272. Peiping’s 249, May 31, 1 p.m.58
- 1.
- From a source believed to be reliable it is learned that relations between some of the more important members of the Provisional Government namely Wang Keh Min, Tang Erh Ho, Wang Ying Tai, Chu Cheng and Yu Chin Ho on the one hand and Japanese advisers [Page 186] on the other including Kita continue to be inharmonious. At a conference a few days ago the above mentioned Chinese leaders aired their grievances quite freely to the Japanese charging them with having failed in their understanding of the Chinese, having ignored their livelihood, having shown no respect for Chinese education and culture and having attempted to Japanize Chinese education. Among other things they criticized the behavior of the Japanese troops and asked for more considerate treatment by them of the Chinese people. Subsequently Kita let Wang Keh Min know in writing that he was greatly displeased by the criticism and by the attitude of the Chinese leaders and accused them of being anti-Japanese.
- 2.
- The method by which the information has been allowed to become known creates a suspicion that it may have some relation to the rumored coming of Wang Ching Wei to Peiping. It is probable that it may represent a step in that direction.
Repeated to Chungking, code text by air mail to Tokyo.
Lockhart
- Not printed.↩