893.01/2–1049: Airgram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Ambassador in China (Stuart)
[Received February 17—5:06 p. m.]
A–26. Remytel [to] Nanking 297, February 7 (repeated [to] Department 407,29 via pouch to Canton) concerning protests by members of the Legislative Yuan in Shanghai against the removal of the Central Government from Nanking to Canton.
Further evidence of popular indignation at the “flight” of the Sun Fo Cabinet to Canton and apparent increasing public support of Acting President Li Tsung-jen may be found in an article printed by the Ta Kung Pao of February 6, which describes a meeting in Shanghai of the resident committee of the Provisional Kiangsu Provincial Council under the chairmanship of Pan Shu-sen at which the following resolutions were passed: 1) The Central Government should be requested to appoint a capable man to replace General Ting Chih-pan as Governor of Kiangsu, as the latter had not accomplished anything in the short time that he had held the post. (Comment: Ting was appointed Governor in September, 1948, is a graduate of the first class of Whampoa Military Academy and is believed to be very close to the Generalissimo.) 2) Pang Tien-tsai, Lin Shao-chu and Kuang Sen-san should be appointed delegates to the peace promotion conferences to be held in Shanghai and Hupeh. 3) A telegram should be sent to Acting President Li Tsung-jen pledging full support. 4) A telegraphic request should be made of Premier Sun Fo and top officials of all Central Government agencies now in Canton to either return to Nanking or resign their posts. 5) The Government should be requested to dissolve all rebellion suppression organs in order to facilitate the progress of the peace talks. 6) The Government should order the cessation of conscription. 7) The Ministry of National Defense and the Shanghai-Woosung garrison should immediately issue orders to improve Army discipline.
- Not printed.↩