793.94/6787
The Counselor of Legation in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a memorandum86 on an interview bad by Mr. Hillis Lory, Professor of Political Science, Stanford University, California, with Dr. Wang Ching-wei, President of the Executive Yuan and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of the National Government of China.
[Page 265]Speaking in strict confidence and not for publication, Dr. Wang stated that in event of war between Soviet Russia and Japan, China will not support either Power. Since taking over the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, both the Japanese and the Soviet Russians have approached Dr. Wang with proposals for Chinese support in event of a Russo-Japanese conflict, but he has turned a deaf ear to all such suggestions. China realizes that a Russo-Japanese war would again be fought principally on “Chinese soil” and would bring great hardship and difficulty, particularly in the North, but there would be nothing to gain from supporting either side. A victorious Japan would but continue its encroachment in China. Soviet Russia can best demonstrate its good intentions toward China by restoring Outer Mongolia and terminating Communist influence in Kiangsi Province.
Dr. Wang stated that he and General Chiang Kai-shek are definitely in complete accord on the policy of refraining from support of either Power in event of a Russo-Japanese war.
Questioned as to whether there has been any change in the Chinese attitude toward Japan on the Manchurian problem, Dr. Wang illustrated the Chinese position by stating that when a man with a sore arm is struck a heavy blow by an antagonist he may have to fold his arms for the time being but that this does not mean that he intends to suffer the injury indefinitely.
In reply to the suggestion that Japan’s aggression in Manchuria may not be essentially different from the imperialist expansion of other Powers in the past at the expense of weaker States, Dr. Wang pointed out that Manchuria is Chinese territory with a Chinese population of 25,000,000 out of a total of 30,000,000, that there is no question of “race” involved in the Manchurian question, that the people of China are not content to allow Japan to seize a large area of Chinese territory, that Japanese ambitions do not extend alone to Manchuria but to all of China where Japan seeks domination similar to British domination in India, and that the Chinese do not wish to become “Indian Chinese”.
Asked whether he shares the opinion held in some quarters that there has come about in the United States a change of attitude in reference to Japan and the Manchurian question, Dr. Wang asserted that he does not share any such opinion, that the United States may not feel that Japan’s bad manners toward China should be corrected by resort to war, but that it does not follow that because the United States has failed by peaceful means to obtain a modification of Japan’s aggressive attitude and a solution of the problems of the Pacific, the United States is disposed to acquiesce in Japan’s aggression.
On the subject of the Communists in Kiangsi, Dr. Wang stated that recent military successes assure the termination of this menace. He [Page 266] added that he regards the situation with satisfaction also from the point of view that the Communist movement is collapsing of its own weakness. The problem of the National Government is now one principally of reconstruction for the rehabilitation of the distressed people of the province.
As to relations between the National Government and the so-called “Canton faction”, Dr. Wang asserted that Kwangtung and Kwangsi do not possess sufficient military strength and resources to attack the National Government; that, while the National Government might be certain of the subjugation of the two provinces by military force, he is unalterably opposed to any such measure and it will not be taken while he remains a member of the National Government; that he believes that the opposition to Nanking in the southwestern provinces can be overcome in time by demonstrating the success, ability and good intentions of the National Government in territory under its control; and that military expeditions for the suppression of rebellious factions have not been permanently successful in the past, hence his preference for peaceful measures for the solution of the problem of the Southwest.
Respectfully yours,
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