893.001/6–2348: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Pilcher) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23—5:46 a. m.]
1412. Appointment of Chen Yi as Governor of Chekiang on June 21 can hardly be expected to elicit any wide acclaim in view of his record as Governor of Taiwan from which post he was removed over year ago following riots and subsequent bloody purge of Taiwanese. Most quarters hold that Chen Yi has been thoroughly discredited as an administrator. Although appointment reported in press to be in [Page 317] line with policy to give governorship of provinces to native sons, Consul General believes it serves demonstrate once again major consideration of Generalissimo political appointments is matter of personal loyalty. Chen is reported to have been in semi-retirement since leaving Taiwan and not to have held any recent position.
Repeated Nanking 1155.