893.01/2–549: Telegram
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 6—9:20 p. m.]
Cantel 12. As promised, Foreign Office started in business in Canton morning February 5 though we question from the obvious turmoil whether any business was transacted. Symbolically perhaps, Foreign Office is housed in two buildings on Shameen separated only by Soviet Embassy.
Prime Minister Sun Fo and Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wu Te-chen arrived by plane 4th and were met by local celebrities including Kwangtung Governor Hsueh Yueh who has announced his support of Acting President and who told me Li Tsung-jen would be in Canton shortly. Press indicates rift in Government may result effort retain Legislative and Control Yuans Nanking with Acting President, while Cabinet under Sun Fo will function Canton.
Considerable foreign diplomatic representation has already arrived. Soviet Ambassador is here with his Counselor and 30-odd members of his staff. The British have their Chinese Counselor and First Secretary, Assistant Military Attaché; and supporting staff; Australia has its First Secretary; India First Secretary; French have Counselor and Assistant Military Attaché; Italians have Counselor; [Page 108] Burma First Secretary.; Czechoslovakia the Chargé; Netherlands Counselor and two others, Apostolic Internuncio his First Secretary. Due to arrive today are Counselor [of] Iran; Second Secretary [of] Turkey; First Secretary, Portugal; Chargé, Mexico; Commercial Counselor and others of Korea. There is still evidence of considerable chaos and I doubt that business can be done effectively with Government before middle or end next week.