893.00/15141
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 14.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of despatches No. 127 of August 19 and No. 140 of August 30, 1943, from the Secretary on detail at Chengtu53 in regard to a revolt of peasants during July 1943 in the vicinity of Suifu, Szechuan, against Central Government troops.
Summary. Foreign observers report unusual air activity, concentration of Central Government troops in the Suifu area and the withdrawal of small units of Szechuan provincial troops from that area prior to the outbreak of actual disturbances between the peasants and the Central Government troops in the Suifu area on July 16. It was not until July 27 that the troops were able to quell the revolt [Page 345] which was perhaps aided by provincial troops of General Liu Wenhui, Chairman of the Sikang Provincial Government and one of the leaders of the Szechuan military group. The revolt is described as having been directed against the Central Government’s method of conscription and levying of taxes and against thieving by Central Government troops and to have been instigated partially by a local secret society known as the “Big Blade Brigade”. As an aftermath to the trouble, the Central Government troops methodically searched every farmhouse in the area and took away clothing, bedding and valuables and levied contributions of money from the peasants. End of summary.
Although the Central Government apparently crushed this revolt against its authority, this incident offers further indication that the Chungking authorities have no real solution to the problem of peasant revolts save that of force and that reforms directed toward preventing such outbreaks are still not being carried out by the National Government.
Respectfully yours,
- Neither printed.↩