893.00/11–2044: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:20 p.m.]
1874. There are persisting reports that Generalissimo has come to point of making changes in key Government posts, the changes, however, to be within the family circle of the party and to have as one purpose effecting “reorganization” of Government before Communist representatives are invited to nominal participation therein. According to these reports, which are partially confirmed by reliable informed sources, Ho Ying-chin will lose present posts as Minister of War and Chief of Staff and will be replaced in former by Chen Cheng or Chang Chih-chung with Wedemeyer80 functioning in latter; Kung will be replaced as Finance Minister either by O. K. Yui, presently Acting Finance Minister, or T. V. Soong and as Vice President of Executive Yuan by latter (this as yet lacks confirmation); Chen Li-fu will be replaced, as Minister of Education, possibly by German educated Chu Chia-hua who was formerly party Minister of Organization; Tseng Yang-fu who is ill, perhaps incurably, will be replaced as Minister of Communications and new Minister of Interior will be named, although this latter change may be postponed in order to offer portfolio to a Communist representative.
[Page 705]As regards question of possible Communist participation in [on?] nominal basis, we have been given authoritatively to understand that Chou En-lai plans to refuse acceptance of nominal representation in a government so constituted or any compromise which does not meet minimum Communist desires regarding legalization of parties and actual coalition government.
- Maj. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer.↩