Office of the Historian

893.00/15386: Telegram

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

Chungking, May 25, 1944—10 a.m.
[Received May 29—2:50 a.m.]

907. Consul [at] Kweilin in despatch May 8 and airgram May 1756 reports recent increased activity of Marshal Li Chi-shen (Embassy’s despatch 1829, November 1857) and other groups that area in alleged formulation political program to be carried out in event of Chungking Government collapse. Program said to envisage preliminary meeting at Chengtu in October and movement allegedly includes heterogeneous group of province and military leaders, Radical Socialists [Page 432] and practical politicians. Chinese Communists reportedly not yet approached but will eventually be asked to participate. Pai Chung-hsi’s failure to join wholeheartedly in separatist movement of military leaders in southeast and southwest (Yunnan and Szechuan) said to be chief obstacle in Li Chi-shen’s efforts to obtain united front. Under date May 19 Penfield58 reports similar information from Chengtu source (National Salvationist) pointing to movement under aegis Federation Democratic Parties, which is also connected with Kweilin program for establishment united front government. This also indicates cooperation expected from Szechuan war-lords and Lung Yun.

While we have not been able to discover here any information confirming active existence of such movement and do not believe affair to be as serious as indicated by Consul [at] Kweilin, matter is reported as indicative of political ferment obtaining in various quarters and reveals possible extent of dissatisfaction with present regime.

If above described movement were actual danger to Central Government at present time (when Chinese have suffered serious reverses in Honan and possibility exists of Japanese threat to Shensi and drive from Wuhan area south toward Changsha and when Communist position stronger because of Honan defeats), it is felt that Kmt would be taking active steps to conciliate one faction or the other or would in present CEC session make reforms and changes in government. Scanty information on CEC session now available indicates no drastic change in government is contemplated and that political and economic achievements of CEC will consist of words, not deeds.

Gauss
  1. Latter not found in Department files.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, 1943, China, p. 380.↩
  3. James K. Penfield, Second Secretary of Embassy.↩