893.00/15145
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 14.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch No. 1458 of August 13, 1943,47 in regard to the Federation of Chinese Democratic Parties, I have the honor to enclose a copy of despatch No. 41 of September 2, 1943, from the Consul at Kweilin48 describing the political platform of the Federation.
Summary. The Federation, which was organized in Hong Kong late in 1941, is said to include the following minority groups: (1) China Youth Party; (2) National Socialist Party; (3) Rural Re-habilitation Group; and (4) National Vocational Education Society. It is not believed to command a large following, its influence being exerted through the speeches and writings of its leaders and the prestige of those leaders. The Kuomintang is not expected to permit the Federation or any other minority groups in China to attain an effective voice in the conduct of the Government.
Representatives of the Federation feel, however, that the rapid deterioration of the military, economic and political situation in free China will make it impossible for the present right-wing Kuomintang-dominated Government at Chungking to continue indefinitely in power and that when the crisis comes they wish to have at hand a political platform based on democratic principles which will be acceptable to Kuomintang moderates, Communists, groups within the Federation and non-party Chinese. The political program proposed by the Federation is as follows: (1) In order to establish an actual united front against Japan, a “Council of National Affairs”, as the supreme political organ for the national government, should be established immediately, from which is to be created a “Government of National Defense”. The Council should be composed of 100 members, 40 of them Kuomintang, 20 Communist, 20 Federation and 20 non-party members. (2) The armed forces should be nationalized and freed from party politics. (3) All local and subordinate political administrations should be organized on a simple and rational basis. (4) The intellectuals should first be mobilized in order to effect mobilization of the people in general. (5) Local democratic organizations should be established in order to educate the people in democratic principles of self-government. End of summary.
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Respectfully yours,