740.0011 P.W./10–1944
The Consul General at Kunming (Langdon) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 3.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a digest92 of Chinese press comment at Kunming from October 9 to 16 and of a speech delivered by General Lung Yun, Chairman of the Yunnan Provincial Government, on the Double Tenth in regard to the question of American military aid to the Yunnan provincial armies.
Summary of Enclosure: Urgent appeals have been made by the provincial-controlled press for American military aid and support in the defense of Yunnan Province against a possible Japanese invasion. The military reverses in Hunan and Kwangsi and rumors of Japanese increased troop concentrations in Indochina have aroused fears in Yunnan of a Japanese drive against the province. In a speech on the Double Tenth General Lung Yun made a direct appeal to the Allies for the equipping of the Yunnan Provincial armies. The Provincial Government newspaper supported his appeal and pointed to the excellence of the provincial troops as described by an American officer. A Kuomintang military newspaper charged that this appeal for Allied military aid to the provincial forces was “provincialism” for the benefit of “an individual, a family, a district and a province” and that it represented [Page 176] a defeatist psychology. The Kuomintang organ asked for support for Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and asserted that all non-military questions should be shelved for the duration of the war. In an open letter published in the Provincial Government organ the writers described the charge of “provincialism” as slanderous and insulting and pointed out that the emphasis on the defense of one city or province was not new in China. The writers added that political affairs should not be shelved during the war as they were directly related to military affairs. In a special article in the same paper it was stated that China did not belong to “one person or to one family” and that “provincialism” was better than “retreatism” or “waitingism” or “fascism”. An editorial in the Provincial Government paper said that Yunnan, as the key of resistance in China, must be defended, that China must not “establish a government in exile in Washington” and that there must be sweeping changes to carry the nation to victory. End of Summary.
The battle of words between the Yunnanese and Central Government press is said to have been stopped by order of General Lung Yun but the tenor of the argument, with somewhat pointed references on both sides, gives some indication of the distrust and resentment between the provincial authorities and the Central Government.
It is difficult to say with any certainty just what lies behind the urgent appeal on the part of the Yunnan provincial authorities for American aid in equipping the provincial armies. There is some question regarding the course of action that would be taken by the Yunnan authorities in the event of a Japanese drive against the province. Some Chinese observers believe that General Lung Yun would defend his own province against the Japanese; others say that he would put up “token resistance” and withdraw to a place of safety with the majority of his troops intact; and only a few are of the opinion that General Lung Yun would come to an understanding with the Japanese. The Central Government, however, apparently does not completely trust General Lung and has no desire to see his forces equipped with American aid. The situation shows to what extent provincialism, lukewarm loyalty to the national idea, and the lack of real unity in China can affect the war effort against Japan. With a deteriorating military situation in the country, the Central Government gives no signs of wishing to see the Yunnanese armies, which are believed by some American observers to be among the best troops in China, equipped with American assistance. As long as this atmosphere of suspicion and distrust exists between the Central Government on the one hand and provincial leaders, such as General Lung Yun, and the Communists on the other, there can be no real united all-out effort on the part of the Chinese to resist the Japanese. The struggle for power within the country takes precedence over the war against Japan.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩