893.00/8–948: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 9—7:44 a. m.]
1465. T. V. Soong29 tells us that he has been endeavoring during his visit here to convince Generalissimo that situation is desperate and that drastic action is required. He has strongly urged that Generalissimo go before Legislative Yuan and demand full extraordinary powers for all-out war effort and if granted by Legislative Yuan then Generalissimo should fire all incompetents regardless of personal relationships and seek to surround himself with most able men regardless of personal relationships. Although T. V. Soong insists that only some such action can save situation, he was not sanguine that Generalissimo was willing or able so to act.
T. V. Soong insists he is not accepting any Nanking post at this stage but continues fully occupied making Kwangtung impregnable. Recent clashes with bandits his area, he said, were the inevitable result of real efforts toward suppression of smuggling.
- Governor of Kwangtung.↩