893.105/94
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 2.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch No. 1184 of May 14, 1943,60 in regard to the dispute between the Chengtu police and the troops of the Ching Pei Ssu Ling Pu, there is enclosed a copy of a [Page 237] further letter from the Second Secretary on detail at Chengtu,61 reporting increased friction between the two organizations.
Mr. Drumright reports that the incident described in the despatch under reference was followed by a clash resulting in the death of four police and the wounding of seven others. On May 1 there occurred another incident involving the police and the troops when the latter were prevented by the police from forcing their way into a private establishment on the grounds of the West China Union University campus. It is stated in the letter that tension prevails throughout the city as a result of the situation.
Mr. Drumright states that so far as he knows no action has been taken to remove or to discipline General Yen Hsiao-hu, the Commander of the Ching Pei Ssu Ling Pu and a member of the Szechuan military clique, but that some such move is necessary if the National Government is to retain any vestige of its prestige in that area.
There would appear to be increasing opposition on the part of the Szechuan military clique to the authority of the Central Government, and the recent visit of Dr. H. H. Kung at Chengtu and his reported call on Generals Pan Wen-hua and Liu Wen-hui, Governor of and Pacification Commissioner for Sikang, may be taken as an indication that the Central Government is fully aware of the implications in the situation and is taking action to relieve it. These two members of the Szechuan military group are reported by Mr. Drumright as being involved in this trouble at Chengtu and in the disturbances at Penghsien (see Embassy’s despatch No. 1104, April 2661). In another letter dealing with general conditions in China, Mr. Drumright reports a well-informed Chinese observer as saying that General Teng Hsi-hou, the most powerful of the Szechuan militarists, is, however, still loyal to the Generalissimo and will unquestionably support him if an outright break should come.
In a personal letter to Mr. Vincent, Mr. Drumright says that with the absence of Provincial Governor Chang Chun in Chungking and with General Teng Hsi-hou, Pacification Commissioner for Szechuan, in a hospital for an appendectomy at the time of the clash between the police and the troops, the situation came very near to getting out of hand and that the tension continues notwithstanding that Governor Chang is in Chengtu and that Dr. H. H. Kung recently visited that place. General Liu Wen-hui, mentioned above as being involved in the matter, arrived at Chengtu from Yaan at the beginning of May.
Respectfully yours,