893.00/7–1444
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Grew)19
In recent months we have submitted to you information on efforts of minor democratic parties and provincial groups in south China to organize an anti-government front. Such efforts appeared to be not directed at the Generalissimo personally; to aim at democratization rather than the overthrow of the present Government; to envisage no further action except in the event of that Government’s collapse or embroilment with the “Communists”; to have no assurances of cooperation from the “Communists”; and in general to lack cohesion and any well developed program.
Kunming’s despatch no. 51 of July 14 indicates that the movement has taken on a somewhat more serious aspect. The Federation of Democratic Parties now takes the position that the Generalissimo is solely responsible for China’s critical situation; that there is no hope of saving the situation through his regime; that he and his regime are doomed and must be opposed. The Federation claims that its movement has the support of Yunnan, Szechwan, and Kwangsi provincial groups; the sympathy though not active support of the important Kwangsi national figures, Pai Chung-hsi and Li Tsung-jen; and, of much greater importance, an understanding with the “Communists” for “concerted action”. According to the informants, delegates of all the factions concerned will meet at Chengtu within three months to draw up a program looking toward achievement of internal unity through establishment of a “democratic, representative form of government in which there will be de-centralization and recognition of local interests somewhat along federal lines, with the Federation of Democratic Parties forming a middle party between the Kuomintang and the ‘Communists’.”
Chinese liberals sympathetic to but not associated with the movement agree entirely with its indictment of Chiang and the Kuomintang but feel that Chiang is too firmly established to be overthrown. [Page 491] They feel that it is American support alone that enables the Kuomintang regime to survive. While understanding the necessity of our acting in good faith with the legally constituted government, they consider that we have an opportunity now, which may never return, of influencing the Generalissimo (through direct approach by President Roosevelt) into paths of democratic reform; and that the alternative to such pressure will be the firm entrenchment through American military and financial aid of a “reactionary regime …20 which cannot be to the long-term advantage of the United States”.
Despite the wide-spread discontent with the present regime, the Consulate General feels that the movement has still not achieved enough cohesion and leadership to render its success in overthrowing the Generalissimo a likely possibility. As indicated in the despatch, however, the movement derives new significance from its reported inclusion of the “Communists” and from Japanese military successes in China, which, if sufficiently far-reaching, might cause the downfall of the present regime.