893.00/3–2045: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:45 p.m.]
463. Chungking edition Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury March 18 carries statement from spokesman for numerically small but definitely influential Democratic League to effect that League’s supporters probably would not participate in Kuomintang-dominated National Assembly which Generalissimo has announced would meet on November 12 to approve a constitution (Embassy’s 343, March 2). Spokesman stated that Assembly could not meet national demands for unity for the following reasons: (1) Delegates were selected 9 years ago during period of strongest party dictatorship; (2) many able, intelligent and democratic elements will not be included in Assembly, (3) Assembly will not include many who were not eligible 9 years ago because of age limitations but have made great contributions to war of resistance; (4) members of Kuomintang Executive Committee, numbering several hundred, will automatically be members of Assembly—such an Assembly, camouflaged under name of National Assembly, would be nothing more than Assembly of Kuomintang and its adherents and, therefore, undemocratic; and (5) able and intelligent citizens in occupied areas would not be represented.
Spokesman expressed personal opinion that Assembly would not meet as scheduled, he said that on four previous occasions scheduled meetings of Assembly had been cancelled.