893.00/15003
The Chargé in China ( Vincent ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose for the Department’s information a copy of a despatch48 concerning the influence of Ko Lao Hui in Szechuan prepared by Mr. Drumright, Secretary of Embassy on detail at Chengtu.
[Page 222]The despatch indicates that the Ko Lao Hui, which might be translated as “Elder Brothers’ Society,” remains an extremely powerful and influential secret society in Szechuan. It is reported to have some connection with Hung Pang and the Ch’ing Pang which are most active in central and eastern China. The Ko Lao Hui is said by Chinese to have a large membership in Szechuan with approximately one-half of the population of Chengtu associated in some capacity with the Society. Control is exercised not by a central organ but by the leaders in each local unit. It is a general axiom that no activity in any area can be undertaken by government organs without the approval of the local unit of the Society and its elders, known in Chinese as “Ta Yeh”. It is significant that the Society is viewed by some Chinese as a bulwark against Communism and that the Kuomintang has endeavored with some success to utilize the Society for its purposes although it has not attempted to absorb or wholly control the Ko Lao Hui. The Embassy has been informed that the Szechuan military leaders are active members of this Society and that Chinese secret service organs, especially that of the notorious Tai Li, are honeycombed with Ko Lao Hui members. Mr. Drumright concludes with the suggestion that an evaluation of the Chinese scene should not overlook the influence and power of Chinese secret societies over the life of the nation.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩