893.001 Chiang Kai-shek/11
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
No. 1722
Chungking, October 22,
1943.
[Received November 6.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch no. 1700
of October 19, 1943, in regard to the inauguration of General Chiang
Kai-shek as President of the National Government, I have the honor to
enclose a copy of despatch no. 161 of September 29, 1943, from the Secretary
on detail at Chengtu regarding the reaction at that city to the acceptance
by General Chiang of the presidency.
Mr. Smith’s despatch, which contains a summary, is of chief interest in that
it reveals, as stated in the despatch, the considerable prestige of General
Chiang among the people as well as the bitter criticism of some of his close
followers. The report mentioned on page 2 of Mr. Smith’s despatch concerning
the replacement of the Mayor of Chungking by ex-[the
late]President Lin Sen’s chief assistant is not correct; the
present Mayor continues to hold his office.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China on Detail at
Chengtu (Smith) to the Ambassador in
China (Gauss)
No. 161
Chengtu, Szechuan, September 29,
1943.
Sir: I have the honor to report that, as might
be expected, there was little local enthusiasm shown over the
Generalissimo’s acceptance of the Presidency. Some nine thousand
students of the Central Military Academy “spontaneously” demonstrated
their enthusiasm in a parade through part of the city and there was a
Kuomintang inspired fire-cracker celebration in the main business
section.
Summary. There was not much apparent local
enthusiasm over the Generalissimo’s assumption of the Presidency
except among the students of the Military Academy. However,
political observers expressed gleeful admiration of the manner in
which the Generalissimo had maneuvered the other three leading
aspirants for the position into insisting that the Generalissimo
take the post and being satisfied when
[Page 365]
he took their advice. Such stories, whether
true or not, enhance the Generalissimo’s personal and political
prestige in Chengtu.
Two of the best informed Chinese observers with whom I am in contact,
neither of whom seems whole-heartedly in favor of the Central
Government, made a special occasion to tell me with great glee and
admiration of the clever manner in which the Generalissimo had managed
to take the appointment without offending Wang Chung-hui73 or
the two other principal aspirants for the Presidency. They say that the
Generalissimo called Wang Chung-hui in to see him and asked him to
prepare most carefully a list of the functions, powers and
responsibilities he thought the man acting as President should have.
Wang returned to his home and after two days of hard work produced a
most formidable list. The Generalissimo, after studying it carefully,
remarked that it was a masterly piece of work and that he was in
complete agreement with it, but one thing worried him. It was obvious
that whoever accepted such great responsibilities could not possibly be
spared to represent China at the Peace Conference. Wang Chung-hui
reluctantly agreed. Then the Generalissimo asked Wang who he thought was
the best fitted for the Presidency. Wang replied immediately that he
thought the Generalissimo should take the Post. The Generalissimo said
that, in his own opinion, Wang himself was the ideal man for the
position, but, in view of the great need to have Wang free to represent
China adequately at the Peace Conference, the Generalissimo would
reluctantly agree to accept the responsibilities of the Presidency
himself. Wang is said to have left the interview almost as happy over
the promise of future glory as he might have been if his expectations of
appointment to the Presidency had been realized. The Generalissimo then
called the two other leading aspirants for the position in to see him,
and showed them what he called “Wang Chung-hui’s list” and asked them
whether they had any criticism or suggestions. They offered no criticism
but, being thus convinced that Wang Chung-hui had the inside track for
the appointment, urged the Generalissimo to accept the position himself
as the only man fitted to hold such a responsible position. The
Generalissimo finally agreed with them with apparent reluctance, sending
them away satisfied that even if neither of them had received the
appointment, they had prevented Wang Chung-hui from getting it and
making a life-time job of it. They could each nourish the hope that,
when time came for the Generalissimo to relinquish the post, it would
fall to them.
Having thus disposed smoothly of the leading aspirants for the position
the Generalissimo is said to have appointed Ex-[the
late] President Lin Sen’s chief assistant to serve as Mayor of
Chungking
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and to have placed
the deposed mayor in charge of the Presidential Office—thus disposing
effectively of the problem of “hang-over staff”.
Many Szechuanese resent what they consider to be “poaching” on their
private political preserves but even they seem to highly admire and
privately laud the Generalissimo’s political acumen and skill. The
admiration that such stories elicit is a real political force, whether
or not the stories are true. The political prestige of the Central
Government in Chengtu is considerably enhanced by the personal respect
that is felt for the Generalissimo. Stories of his cleverness in
dominating people and of his political foresight are favorite topics of
conversations in Chengtu tea shops, along with bitter gossip about the
foibles and failings of some of his chief assistants.
Respectfully yours,
