026 China/8–1749: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 17—1:25 p. m.]
Cantel 972. George Yeh, Acting Foreign Minister, called me to Foreign Office to discuss White Paper. He said his announcement, Cantel 968, August 17, is only action contemplated Nationalist Government this time. He had taken position which had prevailed that Chinese response should be friendly and not such as to arouse Chinese public sentiment against US. There had been some who wished violent reaction though majority had agreed with him. He had also been able obtain restraint by Kmt and other party leaders in their public announcements.
Although he did not say so, it appears to me that obviously what has happened is that when draft that had been approved by Cabinet was taken Gimo,69 many inaccuracies were discovered because Gimo retains the crucial files in his own possession and would not make them available for revision document. Yeh admitted task had been difficult because certain files were in Taipei and others in possession Gimo. He [Page 1399] added that he had been surprised at mildness attitude Gimo to our White Paper even after he, Yeh, had summarized its contents.
- Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.↩