Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume IX

893.01/3–1449: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, March 14, 1949—11 p. m.
[Received March 15—2:03 a. m.]

572. Consul General Krentz, while en route US home leave, brought me secret message from Governor Chen Cheng to effect that if US Government was interested in Sun Li-jen becoming governor of Taiwan this could be accomplished by appeal from me to Generalissimo not to block such transfer (see Embtel 417, February 18.⁹⁹) While it is surprising and gratifying that Chen Cheng should bother confide this message about possible successor, it may prove that change cannot be made Taiwan without Generalissimo’s concurrence, at least tacit.

Sent Dept 572, pouched Taipei.

Stuart

99. Vol. viii, “Political and military situation in China”, chapter II.