Office of the Historian

893.00/4–849: Telegram

The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State

Canton, April 8, 1949—4 p. m.
[Received April 9—9:23 a. m.]

Cantel 199. April 7 joint session Central Executive Committee and Central Political Council Canton was attended by more than 30 party notables, including Sun Fo, Chen Li-fu,93 Wu Teh-chen, Yu Han-mou,94 Hsueh Yueh,95 Chen Chi-tang,96 Pang Kung-tzu97 and Chiang Monlin.98

We are reliably informed by member of CEC who recently arrived from Taiwan to attend these meetings and who is known to represent Chen Cheng that Premier Ho reported at length on military situation, stating that Red strength along Yangtze had increased to point where crossing could be expected very soon. Ho said Government had no hope arranging cease-fire and that he personally believed there was no chance reasonable peace settlement.

George Yeh then presented summary of aims China’s foreign policy, stating that status Taiwan was most vital question at present. Yeh indicated that since US is thought to consider Taiwan an essential link in its Western Pacific defense chain, there was little likelihood that it would be allowed to fall to Reds.

Premier then asked for advice of members present and suggested that joint session might wish reach some conclusion for transmission [Page 235] to Cabinet on his return Nanking. Session reached no conclusion and adjourned until morning 8th.

Source stated Premier made no mention of Red emissary now Nanking (Nanking’s 716, to Department99), although everyone Canton knows Ho was closeted with Li Tsung-jen for entire evening after emissary arrived. However, this phase peace negotiations will doubtless be discussed today’s session on which Embassy expects to obtain a full report.

At April 7 reception for Canton foreign Diplomatic Corps, Premier and Foreign Minister obviously preoccupied with own concerns and limited conversations with guests to banal generalities. Premier made obvious point of conversing at length and privately with American and Soviet representatives.

Sent Department Cantel 199, repeated Nanking 182, Shanghai 132.

Clark
  1. Coleader with his brother, Chen Kuo-fu, of the C–C clique (Kuomintang).↩
  2. Formerly Commander in Chief of the Chinese Army; Military and Political Affairs Director for South China.↩
  3. Governor of Kwangtung.↩
  4. Administrator of Hainan Island.↩
  5. Pang Sung-chou was a Chinese official in fiscal operations.↩
  6. Chairman of the Joint Commission for Rural Reconstruction.↩
  7. April 6, p. 229.↩