740.00119 Pacific War/40
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 20.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch No. 2105 of February 1, 1944, in regard to the postwar position of Chinese puppet officials, I have the honor to enclose a summary translation of an editorial from the Ta Kung Pao (influential independent daily) of March 15, 1944, entitled “Crimes Committed by Chinese Traitors Should Be Thoroughly Investigated”.4a
Summary of Editorial. The Executive Yuan has created commissions for the investigation of Japanese crimes in China and of damages and losses sustained by China as a result of Japanese aggression. The Government has also already issued regulations concerning the punishment of Chinese traitors and the Generalissimo has repeatedly said that the traitors will never be forgiven. It is proposed, therefore, that a Commission be formed for the investigation of crimes committed by Chinese traitors. They should be punished according to the degree of their guilt: the most serious offenders should be given death sentences; secondary offenders should be exiled or imprisoned; those who acted under coercion should be dealt with according to the severity of their offense; and no traitors should ever again be permitted to serve in the Government or in cultural and educational organizations. End of Summary.
At the Government press conference on March 15, Dr. K. C. Wu, Political Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs acting as Government spokesman, admitted that a commission for the investigation of crimes committed by puppet officials had not been formed and stated, in reply to a question, that no conversations had been held with the American and British Governments regarding American and British [Page 389] nationals who have assisted the Japanese in the occupied areas. This statement is not entirely correct as the Vice Minister of Information suggested to the (then) Chargé d’Affaires in August 1943 that American citizens engaged in broadcasting propaganda at Shanghai for the Japanese and Germans be prosecuted (Embassy’s despatch No. 1446 of August 7, 19435 to which no reply has been received).
Although Chinese officials have repeatedly stated that the Government would punish the puppet officials and the Generalissimo himself is quoted as saying that the Chinese traitors would never be forgiven, it is hardly likely that there will be any large scale punishment of Chinese who have served with the puppet regimes, either as civil or military officials. The Central Government authorities must reckon with the puppet regimes in any settlement in postwar China when there will be many elements striving for power and the retention of their present positions. The puppets will probably be in a sufficiently strong position to have bargaining power, and many of them will undoubtedly point to their continued allegiance to Chungking in spite of their service with the Japanese enemy. No one doubts that there is close contact between the puppet regimes and the Central Government and that many of the puppets are awaiting the opportunity to turn over to Chungking at the proper moment. The Central Government does not have sufficient power, even in unoccupied China, to ignore the strength that the puppet elements can bring to bear on the postwar situation.
Respectfully yours,