893.00/7–1144
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 21.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose translations99 of an undated letter to Vice President Wallace and an open letter to the American people which were prepared by students at National Futan University and presented personally to an officer of the Embassy by one of the students with the request that both letters be handed to Mr. Wallace. Translations of both letters were shown to Mr. Vincent during the Vice President’s stay in Chungking.
Summary of Enclosures. Because of the “unprincipled censorship” and thought control existing in China at present, there has been little opportunity for a heart-to-heart talk between the Chinese and American peoples. The Kuomintang has refused to follow the democratic tide and has not altered its internal Fascistic organization. On the contrary, those members who did not openly surrender to the enemy with Wang Ching-wei have, under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, Ho Ying-chin, Chen Li-fu, Chen Kuo-fu, H. H. Kung and others, become more Fascist every day. China is now divided into two countries: the democratic China, composed of various parties under the leadership of the Communist Party, and the Fascist dictatorship of the Kuomintang; the former is positively carrying on the war and protecting the people, while the latter sits back and oppresses the people. In addition to political and military affairs, culture and education also show the effects of the reactionary administration and the Kuomintang has issued orders to persecute, arrest and kill all liberals and left-wing elements. The book China’s Destiny, an evil book “full of lies and absurdities”, is required reading for all university and high school students in the country. Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang Government and Wang Ching-wei’s puppet government are essentially analogous, the only difference being that the former pretends to be patriotic while the latter has sold out openly to the enemy.
Although Sun Fo’s recent speech before the Youth Corps, in which he admitted the presence of Fascism in the Kuomintang and the possibility of another Chinese revolution, appeared to herald a change for the better, we must acknowledge that the liberal democratic elements in the Kuomintang are completely without power. The deciding power for the reformation of China into a democratic country lies in [Page 473] the expansion and unification of Chinese mass movements. The recent desertions from the Kuomintang of more liberal members should help in the formation of a united democratic front.
While the building of a democratic Chinese Government is principally the duty of the Chinese people themselves, the other nations, particularly the United States, also have responsibilities to fulfil. Assistance and support should be given to China’s “Titos” behind the enemy lines instead of to China’s “Mikhailovich”. The following demands are made of the American people: (1) that an American military mission be sent to Yenan; (2) that an American Consulate be opened at Yenan; (3) that equipment and war supplies sent to China be distributed directly by an American Government agency; and (4) that the American Government issue a manifesto expressing its attitude toward Fascism on the Far Eastern continent. End of Summary.
The student who personally presented these letters to the Embassy stated that the sentiments and beliefs expressed therein were backed by more than half of the student body of Futan University, although because of the strict supervision exercised over the students and the government espionage activities on the campus only relatively few either dared or had the opportunity to sign the letters.
In this regard, a professor of law at National Central University recently informed an office of the Embassy that there are four separate government organizations carrying out espionage activities on or adjacent to the University campus. The first and most formidable of these, he stated, is the Kuomintang Bureau of Investigation and Statistics of which Hsu En-tseng, Deputy Director (also Vice Minister of Communications), is reputed to be in charge of espionage work. The professor estimated that a minimum of one student out of every hundred is clandestinely employed to spy on and report the activities of his fellow students. Other organizations, he stated, are Tai Li’s organization, the Chungking Garrison Headquarters and the police, all of which are reported to submit detailed reports on the remarks and activities of both students and professors which are critical of the Government or manifest sympathy for the Communists. The informant further stated that, while only in rare cases had students been spirited away from the campus without further trace because of their outspoken criticism, many students after graduation had found it impossible to secure employment because of some careless remark that had been made to “friends” some year or two before.
In view of these repressive and supervisory activities carried on by government organizations over educational institutions, the Embassy is of the opinion that the enclosed letters are indicative of considerable thought and courage on the part of the students preparing them. While there is an unmistakable pro-Communist tone to the letters, it is believed that the number of actual Communists in the universities in free China is relatively small and that the letters were [Page 474] written more in protest of the refusal of the Kuomintang to adopt democratic procedures than in support of the Chinese Communist Party. The name of the university should, of course, be kept in confidence in order to protect the students concerned.
Respectfully yours,
- Enclosures not printed.↩