FE Files, Lot 52–354
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Ballantine) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Dunn)
At a plenary session of the Executive Yuan held at Chungking on May 31 the resignation of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as President of the Executive Yuan was accepted and Dr. T. V. Soong was appointed to succeed him. It will be recalled that Dr. T. V. Soong has been Acting President of the Executive Yuan since last December.
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek remains President of the National Government of China and Commander in Chief of all Chinese Forces and it appears probable that his resignation as President of the Executive Yuan was accepted in order to enable him to give greater attention to military matters. The appointment of Dr. Soong as President of the Executive Yuan confirms him in a post which has often been likened to that of Premier and which is the second most important and responsible office in the Chinese National Government. Dr. Soong’s appointment gives him certain added authority and prestige and is a definite indication that his political fortunes are in the ascendency. On the other hand, Dr. H. H. Kung, whose resignation as Vice President of the Executive Yuan was accepted at yesterday’s plenary session, has temporarily at least dropped from the Chinese political scene.
It is not believed that the changes announced will have any significant effect upon China’s position at the Conference.