894A.00/5–1749
The Consul at Taipei (Edgar) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 6.]
No. 16
I have the honor to enclose the text of a memorandum54 left at the Consulate General entitled “Appealing for a Prompt Action” and signed by a Chen Fong-chu who lists himself as President of the Formosan Democratic Independent Party.
The memorandum, after reviewing Taiwan’s troubles, claims that “the duty and responsibility of protection of Formosa must fall upon USA to drive out the unwanted Kmt elements from our island once the term of trusteeship is impractical to them.”
It is the considered opinion of this office, based on conversations of its officers with the so called leaders of local independence groups, that these individuals can better be described as self-appointed spokesmen of an island-wide revolutionary movement rather than as leaders of organized revolutionary parties. This opinion is also held by service attachés from the Embassy who have spent much time here recently and by reputable American newspapermen who have checked the local situation.
The recording of this opinion however should not be taken to mean that in the face of an emergency or the unexpected appearance of an opportunity for action that an island-wide uprising might not take place, but it is believed that under present conditions it would not be well organized nor co-ordinated and that the self-appointed leaders could not agree on a concerted plan and policy.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩