893.00/9–1247: Airgram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 23—8:32 a.m.]
A–180. The Ambassador has been informed by a Chinese with whom he has been acquainted for many years and in whose veracity he has confidence that two regulations affecting the coming elections have come to his knowledge: (1) Any Kmt member who runs independently for election to the Legislative Yuan will be dismissed from the Party; (2) The Provincial Governors, Political Commissioners and Hsien Magistrates are to be held responsible for the election of those names furnished by the party.
[Page 283]On August 15 the Ambassador had suggested to the Generalissimo that Dr. Chen Li-fu be sent abroad for the study of political party methods in democratic countries. The Generalissimo replied that he had been thinking of having him go to Europe but could not spare him now because he needed him for the coming elections. One cannot but speculate as to whether there is a plan to pack the Legislative Yuan with approved Kmt members.
On the other hand it is understandable that since Chinese voters are mostly ignorant and indifferent and all of them without experience, some control from the Kmt would seem desirable to secure continuity in the national government.