893.032/12–1747: Telegram
The Consul General at Taipei (Krentz) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 17—2:32 p.m.]
49. Following is the full text except for certain omissions after text quoted of Governor Wei Tao-ming’s speech at the convocation of the PPC session here last week. Translated from release by Provincial Information Office as published by all local press:
“Rumors concerning this province are numerous and they come to our attention one after another. They are not accidental at all but are purposely directed. They touch upon myself as well as my family, the Provincial Administration as well as the entire people of Taiwan. They charge us with all the current bad things chargeable to a man. Let us take for instance two specific cases: Some people say that [Page 477] Chen Yi is a tiger and I am a hyena and that I am more greedy and cunning than Governor Chen. They say the Provincial Government is incompetent, all industries on the island are at a standstill and conditions are worse and more unstable than they were before the February 21 incident. At the same time, other people say that my wife is doing business on Taiwan; monopolizing the market; that more than 100,000 soldiers are stationed on the island, and that people are living at the point of bayonets. They also say that people are starving to death every day and therefore all the Taiwanese entertain the thought of breaking away from China and wish to be governed by either a certain nation or Japan, or be placed under trusteeship.
These are only two examples. They may differ with other rumors in detail but are representative in all the essential points. I do not wish to make any comments on the rumors concerning myself. As to whether Governor Chen is a tiger and I am a hyena, you gentlemen have your own ideas and I do not want to make any explanation at this time. We do not know whether a hyena is greedier and fiercer than a tiger and must leave the question to the zoologists to study and decide. But as to exploitation and graft, whom have I exploited and what have I grafted? If I have done one such thing, I shall naturally be subject to the law. Even if my wife has undertaken any business herself, I shall be willing to accept the punishment of the law. As to the saying that all industries on Taiwan are at a standstill; men are starving to death everywhere; 100,000 soldiers are stationed on the island; et cetera; you gentlemen can judge whether such rumors are based on facts since you all come from the various places on the island.
I think all these rumors can be answered by facts, our comments being superfluous. Nevertheless, I cannot remain silent to the false accusation that the people of Taiwan wish to break away from their Fatherland and would like to be governed by a foreign country. I consider it a grave insult to the people of Taiwan; a grave insult not only to the people of Taiwan but also the entire population of China.
The Chinese nation has a glorious culture of 5,000 years. Once in the past, due to our misfortune, we were subject to the military might of imperialism which caused our Taiwanese compatriots to come under Japanese control depriving them of their freedom for over 50 years. However, during the 50 years, the people of Taiwan never for one moment ceased their struggle. Their 40 odd uprisings during the 50 years were a sufficient proof of their strong national spirit. If we will only recollect their voices of despair and appeal and compare them with their joy and enthusiasm displayed at the restoration of the Island, we can easily know to whom they express allegiance. All the purpose by directed false accusations we have heard are a matter of the greatest sorrow to the people of Taiwan who think that even a denial is shameful. If we have the slightest doubt in them, we are giving them the greatest insult. In view of their falsehood and inaccuracy, all these rumors, groundless as they are, are definitely not proper and friends’ criticism but malignant attacks. One who deliberately makes statements like these against own conscience [makes them] with a definite purpose, otherwise he would not cheat the people and himself.
These types of rumors have been coming to our ears ever since the [Page 478] restoration of Taiwan. Their sources are easily traced. Generally, they are partly from the Communist publications and partly from foreign publications. Tracing these publications and their articles, we can clearly find out their purposes. They are a sort of international intrigue. Their aim is to partition Taiwan and sever it from its Fatherland. The original ideas of the Communists may differ from those of the foreign ambitious elements or they may collaborate with each other to some extent, but their ultimate aim is the same. Believing that Taiwan is newly liberated and returned to the embrace of its Fatherland after the war, and that many questions in the Far East resulting from the second world war must wait for solution at the Peace Conference with Japan, they all intend to take the opportunity to sever Taiwan from China again and put it under their own control. Their intention is very obvious. Their plot is to accuse the people of Taiwan of being willing to be governed by foreigners. They attribute such willingness on the part of the Taiwanese to a bad government. They attribute the bad government to the fault of the chief administrator. They make those who do not realize the actual conditions on Taiwan believe that the fault of the chief administrator is responsible for the bad government which is in turn responsible for the suffering of the people and the growing sense of the detachment felt by the people. Their technique is well calculated. But those who understand the actual conditions of Taiwan will not be fooled by them, because they are greatly at variance with the truth. Nevertheless, before their cable is disclosed, those who pay no attention to, and are not acquainted with, the conditions of Taiwan will inevitably fall into their trap. Since the general public in foreign countries as well as the people in other parts of China are not well acquainted with the conditions of Taiwan, the Communists and ambitious foreign elements are able to make use of their rumors to fool the world with a certain degree of success. This may explain why such rumors are found more prevalent without than within the Island.
I can solemnly inform you, gentlemen, that their intention is entirely fantastic. There may be some questions in the Far East awaiting settlement at the Peace Conference with Japan [as a] result of the World War but the question of Taiwan has long been decided. The Cairo statement has clearly pointed out “Japan must be made to return to China all territories such as Manchuria, Taiwan, Pescadores, etc., which she has stolen from China.” Logically speaking, a thing lost must be returned to its owner. Taiwan is a Chinese territory which was stolen by Japan and therefore should be returned to China. Sentimentally speaking, the restoration of Taiwan was realized through the bloodshed of millions of soldiers and people of China during the war. These millions of war dead have already decided the restoration of Taiwan. Furthermore, the will of the 6,000,000 people of Taiwan has also determined that Taiwan is one of the provinces of China.
In view of the reasons outlined in the previous paragraph, Taiwan definitely cannot become a question in the Peace Conference with Japan. If it ever becomes a question, it will be an incident for which [Page 479] not only the 6,000,000 Taiwanese but also the 450,000,000 people on the China mainland will be prepared to shed their blood.
The Communists, brutal and inhuman, who destroy peace wherever they go have become the public enemy of the world. But they can fool no one once their intrigue is known. As to the foreign ambitious elements, they constitute only a minority in their own countries and therefore will not be able to do anything in the world of today in which aggression and force is opposed, and freedom upheld. Nevertheless, we must realize at this time that such rumors will continue to spread with growing severity until the Peace Treaty with Japan is concluded. Their methods are various and are frequently changed. Today they say I am a greedy and fierce hyena. If the people do not believe in such stories, they will declare that I am a weak and feeble lamb. Later on, they may say I am a lion, hundreds of times more fearful than a tiger or a hyena. In spite of the varieties of rumor, they will eventually be discredited if we show no excitement at their appearance.
I have spent too much time here on this subject because of the importance we attached to the rumors which are so numerous. I believe that there are good people among the rumor spreaders. They may not be collaborating with the Communists or the ambitious foreign elements but are simply influenced by them without knowing it. I hope these people will pay more attention to the actual conditions of Taiwan and make fewer empty statements in order that they may not unintentionally become henchmen of the treacherous elements. On the other hand, if they spread the rumors with a special purpose, then they are not worth our consideration.
Without rumors, political administration of Taiwan can be considered fairly simple, the self-respect and law-abiding spirit of people is chiefly responsible for stable and good social order on island. Only police and gendarmes are employed for maintenance of public security. There are no troops, 205th Division of Youth Army being stationed here for training purpose only. Satisfactory result in general election also served to show profound civic conscience of local people.
Center of gravity of our present problems is on economic rather than political side. Regarding economic situation of Taiwan, people usually believe we have no difficulty in solving our economic problems, with impression that we have already a sound agricultural and industrial foundation on island. However, we must realize that problems are not so simple. We must know that economy of a colony has many setbacks. The industry of a colony is dependent on that of controlling country. The natural resources of a colony do not serve local people, but people of controlling country. Taiwan suffered this fate during Japanese occupation. Except for a handful of big landlords, all Taiwanese lead difficult life. They worked hard but only to keep their soul and body together. Taiwan was prosperous but only to Japanese. Such an economic condition requires a thorough readjustment or people of Taiwan will never be able to get rich.
In order to solve our complicated and exceedingly difficult problems under these circumstances we must resume former industrial production of Taiwan. At the same time, we must free the people from the [Page 480] exploitation policy of the Japanese and seek to enrich their livelihood. Above all, we must endeavor to attain economic stability which is the first requirement of all industrial progress.
Economic stability cannot be easily attained. Our chance of attainment depends entirely on our financial background. As we know from the general government estimates for the current year, our total income can only cover our total administrative expenses, leaving nothing for our industrial operational funds. Even if we contract our administrative expenditure, we can hardly improve the situation. Since we must progress in our industrial program, we can only rely on the Central Government for assistance in our quest for economic stability.
As before, the Central Government will continue to extend its help to us. The Provincial Government is now drafting measures for coordinating the Central Government with our financial and economic program. Once a perfect coordination is attained local economic stability can be ensured.”
Sent Nanking 202, December 15, repeated Department 49.