893.00/15264

The Ambassador in China ( Gauss ) to the Secretary of State

No. 2103

Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch No. 2021 of January 14, 1944, in regard to the activities of various Kwangsi leaders, I have the honor to enclose a copy of Airgram No. A–3, January 25, 10 a.m. from the Consulate at Kweilin42 reporting the plans and activities of General Pai Chung-hsi, Deputy Chief of Staff and one of the Kwangsi leaders.

Summary. Mr. Service states that according to reliable sources General Pai has abandoned his connections with the Central Government and is endeavoring to effect a revival of provincial military and political power at the expense of the Chungking administration. He is said by some to remain devoted to the Generalissimo personally but to be deeply resentful of Kuomintang policies aimed at increased Central Government power and of the “family dictatorship” dominating the Government. General Pai is expected to order the dissolution of the Kwangsi Pacification Bureau, of which General Li Tsung-jen and he are the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, respectively, if the Central Government makes a move to take over the administration of the Bureau. The Bureau, which has received inadequate subsidies from the Government, has about 10,000 troops under its control together with a staff of approximately 1,000 officials. End of Summary.

The Embassy has not heard at Chungking of General Pai’s intention to sever his connections with the Central Government, but the apparent unwillingness of the Chungking administration to give either General Pai or General Li Tsung-jen a military post of power in south China, the former’s alleged critical attitude toward Chungking military policy (Embassy’s despatch under reference) and the dissolution of the Military Affairs Commission Office at Kweilin headed by Marshal Li Chi-shen offer ample evidence of the coolness of relations between the Kwangsi leaders and the Chungking Government.

Respectfully yours,

C. E. Gauss
  1. Not printed.