893.00/8–1244: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:25 p.m.]
1397. Consul Sprouse at Kunming, responding to instructions mentioned in paragraph 2 our 1385, August 10, 4 p.m., reports that, according to head of Federation Democratic Parties at Kunming, the fall of Hengyang will not bring the movement into the open and that plans for action by the coalition have not yet been completed, although there has been progress in the negotiations with Yunnan and Szechuan militarists.
Sprouse also reports that there continues to exist an army group opposed to some of the leaders around President Chiang, such as the Chen brothers, Ho Ying-chin and Dr. Kung, but loyal to the Generalissimo himself. They are said not to be disposed to act with the so-called coalition movement.
So far as concerns the Communists, our information here is that they are apparently aware of the movement but are not actively participating in it. An effort will be made to ascertain through Service what is known of the movement at Yenan and any Communist attitude there expressed.
An officer from Stilwell’s Headquarters is in Kweilin today and expects while there to feel out Pai Chung-hsi, Deputy Chief of Staff, now there with view to ascertaining his reactions as a Kwangsi leader. We have understood that disinclination of Pai to go along with the movement headed by Marshal Li Chi-sen was one of the elements delaying Marshal’s plans.
The report from Sprouse tends to confirm us in the opinion expressed in paragraph 4 of our 1385 that approach to Ringwalt may be in nature of feeler on American attitude along same lines as approach to Sprouse reported in our 1316, July 31, 9 a.m.