893.00/12–3049
The Governor of Taiwan (Wu) to the Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs (Sprouse)
Dear Mr. Sprouse: I am writing you this letter in the belief that as head of the Division of Chinese Affairs of the State Department you will be deeply interested in the present situation in Free China and the steps we are taking to solve the problems confronting us on this island. In assuming my new duties as Governor of Taiwan I am well aware that whatever reforms we undertake must aim at the achievement of a most important twofold object: that is, political and economic stability. In order to achieve political stability we have decided to give the Taiwanese a greater voice in the provincial administration. The recent reorganization of the Provincial Government has resulted in the inclusion of seventeen Taiwanese leaders among its twenty-three Commissioners, while out of the five Departmental Commissioners no less than three are Taiwanese. My attempt to bring the various Taiwanese groups together into a united front has proved successful and I have been greatly encouraged by their readiness to give whole-hearted support to both the National Government and the Provincial Government in our anti-Communist struggle.
I also wish to mention here in passing that great stress is placed by us on respect for freedom of the press, which has been the consistent policy of the National Government since the termination of the war with Japan.
In the meantime, we are taking positive measures for bringing about economic reforms. Trade with our neighbors in the Far East and with other parts of Free China is being facilitated by removing all barriers. Free enterprise is being encouraged as far as possible. In addition, we are taking active steps to reform the land system in Taiwan in order to improve the livelihood of the people. All these measures, I believe, will not fail to help us achieve economic stability.
Notwithstanding the reverses we have suffered on the mainland, I firmly believe we still have a bright future if the reforms we are undertaking are pushed with vigor and determination. The success of our own efforts, of course, is doubly assured in view of the generous support your great country is ready to accord to us. With the constant encouragement and increasing aid of the United States, which we shall gratefully utilize to the fullest extent, we cannot fail to accomplish our task of checking Communist expansion and eventually recovering all the territory lost to the enemy.
In giving you this brief outline of the reforms we are trying to carry out in our administration of this island I venture to hope that you [Page 471] will be kind enough to favor me with your friendly advice whenever time permits.
With warm personal regards and best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Yours most sincerely,