893.00/15182
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 18.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch No. 1676 of October 14, 1943,75 in regard to the Third People’s Political Council, I have the honor to enclose (a) copy of a Central News Agency (Government-controlled) despatch of October 20, 1943, reporting the announcement by the Supreme National Defense Council of the Organic Law of the Committee for the Establishment of Constitutional Government and the appointment by President Chiang Kai-shek of the members of that Committee and (b) copy of a memorandum dated October 27, 1943, on this subject prepared by Mr. John S. Service, Second Secretary of Embassy attached to General Stilwell’s Headquarters.76
Summary. The organization of the Committee was approved by the Second Session of the Third P.P.C. in September upon the recommendation of President Chiang; its membership, appointed by the [Page 368] Supreme National Defense Council, is composed of Central Executive and Central Supervisory Committee members, delegates of the P.P.C. and experts in constitutional government. In accordance with the Organic Law of the Committee, announced by the Council, President Chiang, as Chairman of the Supreme National Defense Council, will be Chairman of the Committee. The Committee’s function will be to investigate, examine, discuss and report to the Government on matters relating to constitutional government. Minority parties are reported to be critical of the overwhelming Kuomintang majority control of the Committee and the lack of appropriate minority representation and to be unwilling to cooperate in the work of such a committee. End of summary.
Organic Law of the Committee
The Organic Law of the Committee, which was established by the Supreme National Defense Council, provides for the membership to be appointed by the Council from the Central Executive and Supervisory Committees of the Kuomintang, from members of the People’s Political Council (members of its Presidium to be ex-officio members of the Committee) and from among persons with experience in political affairs and constitutional government. Functions of the Committee are (1) to submit to the Government proposals concerning constitutional government; (2) to investigate local organs of public opinion; (3) to investigate the manner in which all laws relating to constitutional government are being enforced; (4) to serve as liaison between the Government and public organizations in matters relating to constitutional government and other political questions; and (5) to examine and discuss all matters concerning the enforcement of constitutional government according to the Government’s instructions. All important questions are to be submitted to the government offices concerned through the Chairman of the Committee.
Membership of the Committee
The Committee is composed of 54 members, including the Chairman and the seven members of the P.P.C. Presidium. Forty-six of this number were nominated by President Chiang for appointment by the Supreme National Defense Council. Of the membership of the Committee approximately 35 are Kuomintang members, about 10 are members of independent minority groups and the remainder are without party affiliation. The majority of the latter, however, are expected to support the Kuomintang in view of their past record, some of them being bound by personal allegiance to President Chiang.
Moderate groups appear to have been given a dominant share in the Committee and the known representation of the reactionary CC clique is less than the total of the Political Science Group and Dr. Sun Fo’s followers. A number of scholars and lawyers have been [Page 369] named to the Committee. Only one military representative, General Hsiung Shih-hui, has been placed on the Committee, and he is considered a member of the Political Science Group.
Controversy between the Kuomintang and the Minority Groups over the Committee
The lack of support given by the minority party leaders to the P.P.C. during its session in September (there was negligible minority party representation in attendance) nullified the efforts of the Kuomintang to point to the increasing popular support behind the P.P.C. and increased existing doubts regarding the real attitude of the Kuomintang toward constitutional government. Therefore, prior to the establishment of the Committee discussions between the Kuomintang and the minority groups (except for the Communist Party) centered around the questions of legalization of minority political parties and the establishment of a committee independent from the P.P.C. to deal with matters relating to constitutional government. The result was the placing of the Committee under the Supreme National Defense Council which, while purely Kuomintang, is less obviously political than the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang and in theory is the highest organ governing the nation. The minority groups then insisted that their leaders or chosen delegates be named members of the Committee as representatives of their parties and that all minority parties be given representation. A list of members submitted by the minority party leaders to President Chiang was not, however, agreed to and three outstanding minority leaders were not appointed. Those appointed were named as experts or as members of the P.P.C. and not as representatives of their parties. The minority parties feel that the Kuomintang is attempting to break up their united front by the elimination of the three appointees requested.
Minority Party Criticism of the Committee
Minority party leaders resent the overwhelming Kuomintang majority control of the Committee which is under the Government rather than an independent committee and state that its powers are vague and its effectiveness doubtful. They particularly resent the fact that President Chiang is Chairman of the Committee in that his presence may be expected to prevent the free discussion and criticism necessary to the working of any such committee.
According to reliable reports the Communist Party was not consulted with regard to the composition or the organization of the Committee and its first knowledge thereof was the announcement by the Supreme National Defense Council. The Kuomintang in its publicity has, however, emphasized the part allegedly to be played in the committee’s [Page 370] work by minority party personnel. A China Information Committee Bulletin (Ministry of Information release) of October 21 was headlined “Communists on Constitutional Government Committee” and devoted several paragraphs to the participation in the Committee of various minority party leaders.
As a result of the controversy, the minority parties are now reported to be unwilling to cooperate with the Committee and to have taken the position that they will not participate unless all minor groups are appropriately represented. The consequence of the criticism and controversy is that the Committee which is actually more moderate in composition than might have been expected or hoped for is hampered at the outset by political bickering. This circumstance will likely not only lessen the effectiveness of the Committee but will also make more evident, if not more voluble, the suspicion between the Kuomintang and the minor opposition groups.78
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩
- Neither printed.↩
- In a memorandum dated February 22, 1944, Troy L. Perkins of the Division of Chinese Affairs commented: “It is interesting to note that the minority parties, because they are not appropriately represented, are now reported to be unwilling to cooperate with the Committee, apparently in the hope that a show of independence may strengthen their position and even lead to the legalization of minority parties. This may indicate that some non-Kuomintang and liberal leaders see a possibility that the one-party monopoly can be effectively broken.”↩