893.00/10–647: Airgram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 16—8:37 a.m.]
A–196. At the weekly press conference held October 1, 1947, Dr. Hollington K. Tong, Director of the Chinese Government Information Office, answered the following questions concerning the Democratic League:
Question: Is it true that the members of the Democratic League have assumed important positions in the Communist areas? Do you have details?
Answer: Members of the Democratic League who have taken up responsible positions in the Communist-controlled areas in the Northeast [Page 311] include: Yen Pao-hang, Chairman of the so-called Liao-Pai Provincial Government; Yu Yi-fu, Chairman of the so-called Meng-kiang Provincial Government; Chai Hsiang-chen, Vice-chairman of the so-called Meng-kiang Provincial Government; Kwang Meng-chueh, Commissioner of Education in the so-called Meng-kiang Provincial Government; Han Yu-tung, Minister of Education in the so-called Sung-kiang Provincial Government; Chow Ching-wen and Kao Tsung-min, both members of the so-called Joint Administrative Committee of the Northeastern provinces.
These individuals are only a few well-known examples. A local committee of the Democratic League has long been functioning in Communist territory. Besides the more prominent ones, there are many more League members who are actively cooperating with the rebels. The Central Committee of the Democratic League has taken no action whatsoever against its members such as those just mentioned who have been working with the Communists and are thus actively participating in open rebellion against the Government. It is noteworthy to mention that these persons at the same time are members of the Democratic League’s Local Committee in Communist territory. On the other hand, the Democratic League has taken stern action against its members who have accepted positions in the National Government and those who took part in the National Assembly. Such members were forced by the Democratic League to withdraw from the League. It opposes not only the Government but also the constitution of the republic. In other words, League members, while having no individual freedom to serve the Government or sit in the National Assembly, can still retain their membership even though they have been actively working with the rebels. This sharp contrast ustrates the position taken by the Democratic League.
Another fact is also worthy of our attention. Since the promulgation of the mobilization act, League elements have attempted to rouse nation-wide opposition to the implementing of the articles. For example, the Hong Kong Kowloon Committee of the Democratic League, which has taken refuge in fallen territory, issued a manifesto in July inciting the people to oppose the mobilization act by action. The manifesto, which is an obvious attempt to incite public disorder, was issued in the name of a local committee of the Democratic League. More than two months have since elapsed but the persons responsible for the central direction of League activities are not known to have taken any steps to correct their local representatives or clarify their own attitude. It is a plain fact that activities of any political party generally follow a program laid down by its central committee. Local committees of the Democratic League have either participated in [Page 312] open rebellion or attempted to inspire public unrest. Those in the Central Committee of the Democratic League cannot escape due responsibility for such acts.
I do not propose to discuss in detail the close association that has existed in the past between the Chinese Communist Party and the Democratic League. The League has acted in close unison with the Communists and follows closely their lines of propaganda. This fact can be verified by any person who has been watching the political situation in China. The fact [is] that some League elements after the promulgation of the mobilization act are still cooperating with the Communists while others have made open attempts to inspire public disorder. This fact convinces us more than ever that the Democratic League is far from being an independent political party but is merely serving as a front of the Communists.