893.00/6–645
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Stanton)60
| Participants: | Dr. Chun-mai Carsun Chang, Delegate of China |
| Mr. Joseph W. Ballantine | |
| Mr. Philip D. Sprouse | |
| Mr. Edwin F. Stanton |
Dr. Carsun Chang, leader of the Chinese National Socialist Party, informed us during the course of an informal conversation that one of the objects of his present visit to the United States is to bring about the amalgamation of the Chinese Constitutionalist Party in the United States and Honolulu with the Democratic League in China. Dr. Chang explained that the Constitutionalist Party had been established a good many years ago in the United States and was originally devoted to the promotion of the cause of the old Monarchical Party in China, but that in recent years its political thinking had changed and that it was now endeavoring to bring about the early establishment of genuine constitutional government in China. With respect to the strength of the party, Dr. Chang said that it had seven branches in the more important cities of the United States and membership numbered approximately 1,000 in this country. He added, however, that in Honolulu the party was stronger than the Kuomintang and numbered several thousand members.
There ensued some discussion concerning the proposal to establish a constitutional government in China following the convening of the National Assembly on November 12, 1945. Dr. Chang said he and other members of the Democratic League felt that the National Assembly would be “packed” with Kuomintang representatives elected some nine years ago and that neither the Assembly nor a constitutional government which might be established later would in any sense be truly representative of the Chinese people.
Dr. Chang said that shortly after the arrival of Dr. Soong in this country he had sent a telegram to the Generalissimo urging him (1) to expand the People’s Political Council and to give it real power and authority with a view to making it a sort of parliamentary body which would have a real voice in the government, (2) to establish a [Page 403] unified military command in which there would be a representative of the National Government, the Chinese Communists, and the American military authorities, and (3) to stop his present practice of issuing a multitude of orders in regard to routine administrative matters. Dr. Chang said that Dr. T. V. Soong had permitted this message to go forward but that in reply the Generalissimo had merely said that he would like to discuss the contents of the message with Dr. Chang upon his return to China. In answer to a question as to the attitude of Dr. Soong regarding this vital problem, Dr. Chang said he felt sure that Dr. Soong realized the gravity of the matter and that he sincerely desired a compromise settlement with the Chinese Communists. In support of this view he cited the fact that Dr. Soong had permitted his message to go forward to the Generalissimo.
It was apparent from remarks made by Dr. Chang that, while he and other members of the Democratic League agree with the Chinese Communists upon the necessity for the termination of Kuomintang control of the National Government, they do not see eye to eye with the Chinese Communist Party in all other matters and specifically do not wish to see established a Chinese government dominated by the Communist Party.
Dr. Chang said he expected to be in this country for some time and was interested in establishing in Chungking a government-sponsored translating bureau which would undertake the translation of the writings of the principal American political leaders, since he felt that students and others interested in the United States had very little knowledge, for instance, of the writings of Hamilton and Jefferson.
- Copy forwarded by Mr. Stanton on June 11 to the Assistant Secretary of State (Dunn) with the comment: “If you have time you may wish to read the attached memorandum of a conversation with Dr. Chun-mai Carsun Chang, leader of the Chinese National Socialist Party, in regard to the problem of internal unity in China.” Copy transmitted by the Acting Secretary of State in instruction No. 178, June 22, to the Ambassador in China.↩