Office of the Historian

893.00/11–1749: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Strong) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, November 17, 1949—5 p. m.
[Received 9:47 p. m.]

Cantel 1290. It seems probable that President Li is absenting himself from Chungking in knowledge decision of majority will be to seek refuge Taiwan and in desire not to associate himself with such decision.

However, we feel that by staying away at this crucial time he will lose any hope of drawing group with him to Nanning if he plans set up shop there. Most of those who might have been attracted to his standard cannot very well follow a man who does not appear to plead their cause.

We believe high policy decision being taken today in meetings of Supreme Emergency Council, Executive Yuan and CEC of Kmt.75 If decision Taiwan, as seems probable, we feel it is end of this Chinese Government as presently constituted.

Sent Department Cantel 1290; repeated Hong Kong 68, Kunming 45, Taipei 223; Department pass Hong Kong, Kunming, Taipei.

Strong
  1. Central Executive Committee of Kuomintang (Nationalist Party).↩