893.00/14145
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 13.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a memorandum25 of a conversation of June 9, 1937, between an officer of this Embassy and an official of the National Government concerning various aspects of important current political developments in and with respect to China. The official in question has frequently been a reliable source of information and is in a position to have an intimate knowledge of developments which concern the National Government.
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6. Conclusion. Considered together, the informant’s remarks bring out in fairly clear outline what is taking place in and with respect to China today. That is to say: the Chinese Government, while waiting for Japan to make the next move in regard to fundamental Sino-Japanese issues, is taking advantage of the temporary relaxation of acute Japanese pressure to proceed with the unification of the country, the consolidation of the Government’s authority, and with construction and strategic projects; meanwhile the jealousies and competitive maneuvers of western nations are concerned in some of these matters, particularly in the construction projects and also, in a broader sense, in the relations of China and Japan, because participation by western [Page 112] nations in Chinese railway construction and other enterprises constitutes a challenge to Japan’s program for Sino-Japanese economic cooperation. The French saying “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” comes to mind in this connection, because it is apparent that China continues to be swept by the cross-currents of many years standing and China’s problems and the problems of the world with respect to China have not essentially altered in recent years. These are: Japanese aggression, the problem of internal peace and order, the problem of industrialization with its political implications involving conflicts of primarily selfish European interests.
There is, however, one far-reaching difference and that is the change in the Chinese themselves. The unification of China no longer depends entirely upon what military force the Government, or the principal leader of the Government, can command. The ideal of national unity is rapidly becoming a part of China’s national consciousness. An example of the tremendous growth of this ideal in the minds of the people was the widespread horror, even among the discontents and the enemies of Chiang Kai-shek, at the Generalissimo’s detention at Sian. Recent examples of the growth of this ideal among the country’s leaders were the peaceful liquidation of the June, 1936 Southwestern revolt, the peaceful liquidation of the December, 1936 Sian revolt, and the current negotiations looking to a complete reconciliation between the Government and the Chinese Communists in the Northwest. The attempt to find a modus vivendi between a government which operates under the framework of a democracy and the Communists is an experiment which does not seem to have been attempted before in modern times. The fact that progress is being made, with the probability of some compromise that will provide a working arrangement, is certain indication of the extent to which the Chinese, heterogeneous as they are in spoken language, physique, temperament and political beliefs, have come to realize the necessity, for their own salvation, of joining together in forming a real nation under effective government.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor of Embassy
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