893.01/10–2449: Telegram

The Consul General at Peiping (Clubb) to the Secretary of State

1826. Re Contel 1667, October 3.30 Preliminary analysis of Chinese People’s Government shows clear balance power retained by CCP. Non-Communist[s] are liberally scattered throughout various government organs but few hold key positions in important government organs.

Communists hold following key positions: Chairman Government Council, Premier State Council, Chairman Military Council, Procurator General, Director General’s Office, Chairman of Committee Political and Legal Affairs of State Council, Chairman of Committee of Finance and Economic of State Council.

Non-Communists hold only positions: Chief Justice, Chairman of Committee on Culture and Education of State Council, Chairman of Committee of People’s Control of State Council.

In Ministries, Commissions and Administrations of State Administrative Council, CCP members hold 17 of 30 positions with rank of Minister. Although 13 non-Communists were appointed with ministerial rank, control of even these ministries by Communist Vice Ministers is evident in most cases. In all 13 ministries headed by non-Communist Ministers, at least one and in several cases all Vice Ministers are CCP members. Total of 35 of 62 Vice Ministerial positions are held by Communists. As example control those ministries, note case of Ministry Health where Li Teh-chuan (Madame Feng Yu-hsiang31) [Page 566] is Minister and figurehead while Communist Vice Ministers Ho Chang and Ssu Ching-kuan actively direct Ministry affairs. Important to note complete Communist domination, by holding all official positions, in Ministries Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Information Administration, Food, in Bank of China; also major domination of official positions in Ministries Interior, Finance Trade, Heavy Industry, Fuel Industry, Textile Industry, Railway, Labor, Law, Commerce, Commission of Offices of Nationalities, Maritime Customs and News Administration.

So far as concerns memberships of various major organs of government, there are 27 known and 3 probable Communists of total 56 members Government Council, 6 known Communists of total 15 members State Administrative Council, 16 known Communists of 22 members in People’s Republic Military Council, 7 known Communists of 11 members Procurator General’s Committee, 5 known Communists of 14 members of Supreme People’s Court. On numerical basis it is certain that CCP controls voting in Government Council, Military Council and Procurator General Committee, stipulated parliamentary procedure requiring simple majority vote of quorum, which consists of one over half total members, to pass any measure.

This analysis does not take into consideration fact that non-Communist officials, Council members and committee members are committed to follow CCP policy. This has not only been stated but is also clearly illustrated by their unanimous support of measures passed by PCC.32 This substantiates previous indications that CCP is making doubly sure of their control of government policy and administration.

Sent Department 1836; Department pass Shanghai 1096.

Clubb
  1. Ante, p. 546.
  2. Widow of Marshal Feng Yu-hsiang who died en route to the Soviet Union in 1948.
  3. Political Consultative Conference.