701.9311/817
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the Counselor of the Chinese Embassy (Liu Chieh)
Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon the Counselor of the Chinese Embassy called on me at his request. The Counselor stated that he was bringing “bad news”. He said that the Embassy had received from [Page 133] Chungking a telegram stating that the present Chinese Ambassador to this country is recalled and is to be replaced by Dr. Wei Tao-ming. The Counselor continued, saying that the Ambassador is out of town, the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Soong) is out of town, he, Dr. Liu, had telephoned to the Ambassador, and the Ambassador had asked that he inform me of the message. Continuing, Dr. Liu said that this message from Chungking would be followed within two or three days by an instruction to the Embassy to inform the American Government officially and to ask for an agrément.88
There followed some conversation in the course of which I asked Dr. Liu whether he would feel free to tell me whether Dr. Soong was in any way responsible for this action on the part of the Chinese Government. Dr. Liu replied that he was confident that Dr. Soong had nothing to do with it either as to initiative or as to being consulted. He said that Dr. Soong has been well satisfied with the existing set-up wherein both the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Ambassador are in Washington, each representing China but operating more or less in separate fields and cooperating effectively without crossing wires. He said that the Ambassador has extraordinary qualifications for understanding this country as well as China and for interpreting this country to his own Government and interpreting China to this country. The Ambassador, he said, has constantly sent to his Government thoughtful and carefully prepared messages dealing with fundamentals in the world situation and explaining the workings of the American democracy and the difficulties which have attended the evolution of our policy and action in relation to the war and the United Nations’ military effort. The Ambassador has also interpreted and explained many things to Dr. Soong and has been very helpful in counseling exercise of patience and pointing out errors to be avoided. On not a few occasions, the Ambassador’s messages to Chungking have evoked expressions of impatience from Chungking; but the Ambassador has always tried all the harder to cause Chungking to look at the world picture in its entirety and to understand the difficulties which confront the American Government and the considerations which determine its action. The Chinese Government, Dr. Liu said, is confronted with many and great difficulties, and it naturally is impatient of delays, feels keenly its desperate needs, and becomes provoked at its representatives because they do not seem to get the results for which it hopes. Of late, he said, the Chinese Government has been critical even of its new Foreign Minister (Dr. Soong) because materials expected from the allies do not reach China.
[Page 134]Dr. Liu made no mention of India. I inferred from this that the message which the Ambassador had received from Chungking made no mention of the India question. I deliberately refrained from trying to draw Dr. Liu out on the subject of the Chinese Government’s reasons for the action which it was taking.
Dr. Liu indicated, though he did not say so expressly, that he felt that withdrawal of Dr. Hu Shih at this time would have a most unfortunate effect—both as regarded Chinese interests and as regarded American interests. I inquired whether there was anything that the Embassy or the Minister for Foreign Affairs or certain prominent Chinese in this country could do toward causing the matter to be reconsidered. I said that the matter was one in which I did not see how the American Government could in any way intrude. Dr. Liu said that he doubted whether there was anything that could be done: the decision had apparently been made by highest authority in Chungking; the naming of a successor implied that the decision was final and not to be questioned. Dr. Liu doubted whether anything could be done by anybody.
I then asked Dr. Liu to tell me what he could about the named successor. Dr. Liu said that Dr. Wei Tao-ming had been educated in France or under French influence; that he became active in China politics; while still comparatively young he became Minister of Justice, that having been about ten years ago; that about a year ago he came to this country en route to France where he was to be China’s Ambassador, but was stopped because the Vichy Government preferred not to receive at that time a new Ambassador from China; that he has been in this country ever since; that he has a house in Washington; that he has with him some of the members of the staff which he was taking to France; and that he is married to Dr. Soumay Tcheng (who has been a prominent figure in Chinese political and legal circles); and that he does not have any intimate knowledge of the United States and is not as proficient in the use of the English language as he is in use of the French.
I asked Dr. Liu whether he thought there would be anything to be gained from a possible conversation between an officer of the Department and the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs. Dr. Liu said that he did not think so and repeated that he thought the decision had been made irrevocably in Chungking.
I asked whether the present Ambassador would be expected to return to Chungking. Dr. Liu replied that he might or he might not, and that in any case he probably would not leave the United States immediately.
I inquired when would Dr. Soong return to Washington. Dr. Liu said that he was expected on Monday evening (today).
- Ambassador Hu Shih on August 20 presented a note announcing his recall and asking for an agrément for the appointment of his successor, Wei Tao-ming. On August 31 the Acting Secretary of State replied, by direction of President Roosevelt, expressing regret at Mr. Hu’s recall and agreeing to Mr. Wei’s appointment (701.9311/819).↩