893.00/15120: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:05 p.m.]
1712. Liberal-minded critics of the Party point out that the CEC resolution regarding future establishment of constitutional government, together with the Standing Committee’s report on which it was based, constitutes chiefly an apologia for the continued deferment of such action by the Kuomintang and is completely defensive in tone, seeking to blame its own failure on Japanese aggression; that while the resolution provides for the convening of the National Congress within 1 year after the war, it requires that those electoral areas and groups which did not hold or complete elections shall elect delegates in accordance with the law, the election to be completed 3 months before the convocation of the Congress; and that if it was not possible to complete the election of delegates in peace time in more than 1½ years it would not seem likely that under early post-war conditions the election can be completed in 9 months.
Adoption of this resolution, which had been anticipated, has not materially increased the hopes of critics of the Kuomintang, who feel that the manner of selection of delegates will be determined by the Party with resultant complete control over the Congress. These critics believe that resolution is chiefly a result of Kuomintang reaction to American criticism of lack of democracy in China (both in the press and to Madame Chiang during her American visit). The resolution is, however, a step forward and may eventually result in making democracy possible even though the Kuomintang now has little if any intention of putting democratic principles into practical effect.