893.00/10–1649: Telegram
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Rankin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:52 p. m.]
859. In conversation Consul General office October 14, 1949, Li Yu-lon, son Li Tsung-jen, stated presenting following on explicit instructions of father given him October 12. Li will be Chungking only few days attempt establish legality Nationalist Government there to keep foreign missions attached and will return Kweilin. Li desperately requests US aid and has presented following plan to Pai Chung-hsi which delegates, Chen Chi-tang and Hsueh Yueh,25 drew:
On receipt immediate US aid they would defend line from Kweilin, Liuchow, Nanning, Kwangchowan, using Kwangchowan and Pakhoi as ports receive aid. Hainan also would be held by Chen taking 30,000 troops now southern Kwangtung, trained by Chen’s brother and loyal to Chen, to Hainan. There are now 30,000 troops Hainan loyal to Gimo but Chen claims could get their loyalty by paying and feeding them. He would have act fast as Gimo planning send more troops Hainan. Liu fears Szechuan may last short time but Liu Wen-kwei loyal him and desires fight with him. Claims Pai has 200,000 troops Kwangsi, although had fairly heavy losses due being forced to fight way out of Hengyang because Gimo treachery in withdrawing his Kwangtung troops without notice. Li anxious now as before break with Gimo and fight to end but can only do so if we supply sufficient funds pay troops, and arms. Gets little money from Gimo but has been only source and funds and only reason not able break before. If American aid not forthcoming soonest, he forced resign. Desired emphasize aid given may be supervised any way US desires, and if any substantial part of $75,000,000 given him, can hold above line several months, causing Communists intense headache.
- Governors of Hainan Island and of Kwangtung, respectively.↩