893.00/15419
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 19.]
Sir: With reference to the Embassy’s despatch no. 2489 of April 25, 1944,73 transmitting a copy of a speech given by Dr. Sun Fo at the San Min Chu I Youth Corps Workers’ Conference at Chungking on April 3, I have the honor to enclose a translation prepared by the Embassy73 of a document which purports to be the Chinese text of this same speech. This document, which is entitled “From a Personal Point of View” (instead of “The Challenge to the San Min Chu I Youth Corps” which was the title of the translation which Dr. Sun privately furnished the Counselor of Embassy), is reported to have been circulated among the members of the CEC and was recently presented to an officer of the OWI by a high ranking official of the Legislative Yuan.
Summary of Translation. Foreign press opinion of China has recently changed from a courteous praising attitude to unfavorable and frequently discourteous criticism, beginning first in the American press and later spreading to British newspapers. This change is not the result of a difference in principles but a disagreement over the methods used in attaining those principles. Many foreigners even consider that the activities of our Party, Youth Corps and Government are anti-democratic and incline toward Fascism. This criticism does not spring from Communist sympathizers abroad but from those who are impatient and dissatisfied with the “incapability and inefficiency of China’s political administration—its slovenliness, perfunctoriness, ineffectiveness and complete lack of thoroughness”. Needing, as we do, foreign assistance both during and after the war, we must seek to eliminate the causes for their dissatisfaction and present a more favorable impression. Their criticism, for example, that the characteristics of our Government are diametrically opposed to democracy is, after all, somewhat justified. For not only are we still in the period of political tutelage but even the democratic system which originally existed has now been forgotten. Public elections in the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies and even India have progressed faster than in China. We have none of the qualifications of a great power and do not deserve to be referred to as such. Moreover, our governmental methods are today welcomed by the Chinese Communist Party and we are unwittingly creating opportunities for another revolution—this time against ourselves! It was Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s hope and belief that, after the realization of the San Min Chu I, no more revolutions would occur, but if we follow present trends and do not reach a settlement of the land question in the near future we are heading for a new social revolution which would spell disaster! End of Summary.
It is noted that the enclosed translation is so different from Dr. Sun’s own translation as furnished by him that it constitutes an entirely new speech, although they both purport to be the speech which Dr. Sun delivered at the auditorium of the San Min Chu I Youth Corps on April 3, 1944. The critical references to the military training and regimentation of the Youth Corps are still present but are considerably softened, and there is no mention of “heel-clicking” at the mere mention of the “Supreme Leader”. It is however, a much more comprehensive statement than that originally submitted and treats the questions of inflation, land equalization, foreign criticism and industrialization, none of which was touched upon in the former translation. Dr. Sun’s criticism, moreover, is more generally applied to the Kuomintang and the Government and less restricted to the Youth Corps itself as was the case in the original version. There also appear three references, which were not included in the former translation, to a possible future revolution against the Government now in power if reforms are not promptly carried out.
The Embassy is of the opinion that the document which was circulated among the CEC members was probably not the exact Chinese text of Dr. Sun’s speech to the Youth Corps on April 3 but rather that Dr. Sun used the occasion of that speech as a pretext for distributing his personal comments and criticism where he felt they were most needed.
Respectfully yours,