893.00/6–1249: Telegram
The Consul at Taipei (Edgar) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 13—1:15 a. m.]
225. For Butterworth. Sun Li-jen, very discouraged, has come to Taipei to tell Governor Chen situation going rapidly from bad to worse and hordes of undisciplined soldiers with silver dollars are making Sun’s position hopeless. Told me he had already raised question with Generalissimo at Takao who became irate, claiming Shanghai troops excellent, fought valiantly and deserve sincere welcome.
I gave him the personal message of your letter May 5 to Merchant at which he brightened considerably.
Sun stated situation has reached stage here where everyone would welcome a change. Believed if Governor Chen received replacement orders from President Li he would withdraw and Generalissimo could not obstruct. He discounted my suggestion of probable sabotage of any such new Governor by Kmt vested interests and said if new regime were forceful and obviously in national interest sabotage if any would be negligible. Criticized Li for not having taken such action already and asked why US did not have Embassy Office Canton urge it. Said new Governor could quickly find many capable liberal officials here to undertake job of saving Formosa for future China and believed outside support would come after situation cleared. Condemned General Peng and other Chen henchmen as self-centered, blind and 50 years out of date. General Yen79 not Generalissimo man and would support change if told of conditions here by US. If move not made promptly, Shanghai and Tsingtao stragglers will be reinforced and become organized full armies complicating problem. Sun not even permitted to know what military supplies are here. Said if soldiers become settled they will be hardest to move and fewer places to go. 99th now planned for east coast, 52nd for Pescadores and 54th for [Page 353] Taichung. Island defense easy with only two or three armies. Cannot interpret his reaction to my inquiry re Wu’s recent visit south. May have been either disapproval or conspiratorial. Sun talked of going Hawaii for US military maneuvers.
- Marshal Yen Hsi-shan became Chinese Premier at Canton on June 3.↩