893.01/959: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:35 p.m.]
1692. General Chiang’s address at September 6 opening of CEC meeting, in which postwar, economic, and political reconstruction are the principal subjects and receive the greatest emphasis, has now been published in full translation by Central News Agency. Following are condensed excerpts:
“Now that final victory is drawing near we at this present plenary session should discuss thoroughly how to build a new, prosperous and strong China. We should center our discussion of the problem of national reconstruction and work out program which may be enforced immediately after the war. Failure in national reconstruction will reduce to naught our victory. This plenary session should deliberate carefully on military, party, political and economic developments and reconstruction based on the Three People’s Principles and make decisions for postwar work.
Judging from the latest military situation, especially developments in the Pacific, our final victory will come within one year at the earliest, or after one year at the latest. But no matter whether the war is terminated within one year or after one year, it will not be difficult for us to pull through this. If during the period we do not redouble our efforts to make progress in various fields of work, particularly military, political and economic and make adequate preparations for postwar reconstruction, we shall still fail, when (if) we should have won the war. It is therefore imperative that we redouble our efforts for increasing our power of resistance and simultaneously make preparations for national reconstruction. This is the most important duty of the present plenary session.
The task of national reconstruction is manifold. But the most important phase is political reconstruction the foundation of which is enforcement of constitutional government. This plenary session should therefore resolve on the problems of the constitution of the National People’s Assembly and the formulation and promulgation of the constitution in accordance with China’s circumstantial requirements.
Secondly, after enforcement of constitutional government, our party should be on equal legal footing with other ordinary parties and the common citizens, and should enjoy equal privileges and rights, fulfill equal obligations and receive equal treatment from the State under the principles of the freedom of assembly organization, speech and publication in accordance with law. But as our party program is national revolution and reconstruction, both historically and morally, it has the responsibility of consolidating the foundation of the State and ensuring the enforcement of our principles. Though our party will be on equal footing with any other party, it will have greater responsibilities as it has a historical revolutionary mission.
[Page 332]Though our economic difficulties are increasing, our economic crisis is already over. Our economic outlook today merits optimism. First, a bounteous harvest through the country has been reaped during the current year. There is no fear of shortage of army and civilian food. Secondly, with a view of helping China overcome her wartime economic difficulties, the United States last year decided to earmark U.S. dollars 200 million of her U. S. dollars 500 million loan to China to be used for combatting inflation, upholding currency, increasing production and stabilizing prices. Consequently, continued worrying over inflation is unwarranted. Our economic situation is by no means without difficulties, but there is absolutely no danger to speak of.
There will be no more serious economic crisis in the coming 2 years of continued resistance, and right now we have to begin preparing for postwar reconstruction and the carrying out of Doctor Sun Yatsen’s industrial program, which requires us to set before us two major goals: the industrialization of China and the improvement of [the] people’s livelihood. We shall need foreign investment and technical assistance to consummate our gigantic program of reconstruction. It is therefore desirable that some decision should be reached at the present meeting with regard to foreign trade, international economic cooperation and other related problems.”