893.00/6–2348: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23—8:08 a. m.]
1124. Initial reception of Prime Minister Wong Wen-hao and his Cabinet by Legislative Yuan and press is highly critical. Wong’s administrative report to Legislative Yuan on June 1245 was vague and full of generalities, as were reports of his Ministerial colleagues. No new policies nor specific panaceas for improvement were offered. Comments of legislators on Yuan floor were violently critical and [Page 316] caustic. Though ministers were not personally attacked and though legislators put forward no specific program of own, their lack of confidence in Cabinet was apparent. Vernacular press controlled by CC clique also censorious, and almost no papers offer Cabinet any support. This position is faithful reflection of general public sentiment of disgust with a government which does not govern.
Premier and Cabinet are generally regarded as personal retainers of Generalissimo and attacks on them are viewed as attacks on President himself. Up to present Generalissimo has failed to defend Cabinet and apparently is willing to let them receive blame for continuing deterioration Government position. Government’s inability control food prices, which has lead to rice riots in Chungking, Ningpo and Yangtze delta towns, is greatly increasing popular discontent and provides critics with additional ammunition which they use unsparingly.
Present Cabinet was deliberate creation of Generalissimo who wanted compliant group through which he could continue to exercise his personal authority over all aspects of Government. Under these conditions we do not expect Cabinet to come forth with any concrete and specific program of its own, nor do we expect Premier to provide any dynamic or constructive leadership.
Since the Gimo refuses to delegate authority, since he still fails to exercise in any positive or constructive way the authority he has concentrated in his own hands and since the Cabinet is so completely subservient to him, we see few, if any, reasons to believe that more efficient and effective government can be anticipated in the near future. And since the Cabinet is so generally regarded as the Generalissimo’s personal machine, criticism of its inevitable shortcomings will be visited equally on the Generalissimo, to the further detriment of his personal prestige.
Sent Dept 1124, pouched all Consulates China.