Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East: China, Volume X

893.00/11–346: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, November 3, 1946—2 p.m.
[Received November 3—4:52 a.m.]

1806. In an interview on October 29 with reputable American correspondent, who has not yet filed story, Wu Teh-chen, Secretary General of Kuomintang, is said to have stated: “The Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang neither ratified nor rejected the PCC decisions but left them open for future discussion.”

So far as Embassy is aware, this is first time that a senior official of either the Government of [or] the Kuomintang has admitted that the CEC ratification of the PCC agreements was in any way conditional. (Embassy’s telegrams 1601, October 5³⁹ and 1623, October 9.⁴⁰)

In course of interview Wu Teh-chen also is said to have remarked that National Assembly as the supreme organ of power would have the authority to revise any draft constitution presented it.

This latter statement is of interest inasmuch as it has been general understanding of non-Kuomintang groups that National Assembly would meet for sole purpose of ratifying the constitution submitted to it by the Constitutional Committee provided for in PCC agreements. This document was to have been the definitive and only document presented to National Assembly for acceptance (Embassy’s telegram 541, March 21⁴¹). Thereafter a permanent National Assembly would be elected in accordance with terms of constitution (Embassy’s telegram 642, April 9⁴²). Section II of PCC agreements, having to do with National Assembly, provides in part “the authority of the First National Assembly shall consist of the adoption of the constitution”.

Stuart

39. Ante, p. 293.
40. Ante, p. 341.
41. Vol. ix, p. 158.
42. Ibid., p. 163.