893.01/2–749: Telegram
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 7—6:53 a. m.]
Cantel 15. On February 6 at what he termed his first press conference as Premier, Sun Fo recalled his Cabinet created to secure “honorable peace” and insisted that did not mean surrender or submission. The Government had moved to Canton to avoid threat of hostilities; Nanking remained the capital. Removal to Canton as a place for Government to function did not affect peace move. Cabinet would meet February 7, he said, as all Ministers and Ministers without Portfolio are here. He denied emphatically there was any friction or misunderstanding between President and his Cabinet. Li might come here for a visit, he said, and members of Cabinet had been asked orally to visit Nanking and Shanghai for frequent contact.
Notwithstanding our information, Canton tends confirm reports visit Control Yuan and Legislative Yuan Presidents to Canton is primarily, if not solely, to try to heal breach between Cabinet and Acting President Li.
Although Government is physically here, little, if any, business is being done and it is difficult to contact reliable sources of information. Archives are still being unpacked in the Ministries we have located, but neither the Ministers nor their ranking subordinates are available.
Sent Department repeated Nanking 15, Shanghai 9.