893.00/2–849: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:49 p. m.]
336. 1. February 6 General Tsai Wen-chih18 called on behalf of Generals Ho Ying-chin and Ku Chu-tung19 to give me following information and to ask if there were any way in which USA could dissuade Gimo from his “present stupidly disastrous course”. Gimo continues to direct military affairs himself, ignoring completely Ministry National Defense. He is working entirely through three fellow-provincials, Lin Wei,20 Tang En-po,21 Chou Chih-jou.22 He intends to abandon Nanking and defend Shanghai. Failing in this, he would aim to defend Fukien province on east and Hengyang (southern [Page 114] Hunan) on west. But latter, once taken by Communists, would enable them to reach Canton.
Tsai is now serving as chief of operations and has been working on plans for defense of Yangtze, which he feels certain would succeed. Communists plan to cross river at Wuhu and Chinkiang. There are some 600,000 National troops along Shanghai–Nanking railway which could be used to divide and defeat Communists with help of Air Force and Navy. Quite possibly these could all be so deployed as to prevent Communists from attempting to cross at least for few months. But Gimo is drawing away best units from Nanking area, leaving Acting President unprotected and foiling his peace efforts, apparently with this deliberate intention. Strategically abandonment of Nanking is thoroughly unsound. It is almost inviting Communists to cross river, and once having accomplished this it would be impracticable from military standpoint to hold Shanghai. Tsai denounced Gimo both for scuttling Li’s efforts and for faulty military tactics.
Significant thing in above report is that it comes from two of staunchest military associates of Gimo for many years, through one of his most loyal and well-trained younger officers. Tsai used very strong language in denouncing Gimo. Appeal to US is sort of desperate attempt to avert consequences of what they regard as folly of Gimo before too late.
It was curious coincidence that on same afternoon Acting President, who of course knew nothing of Tsai’s visit, sent message to effect that he is quite embarrassed by various military officers close to Gimo coming to him to complain about orders that Gimo continues to give them. Thus Chou Chih-jou told him that Gimo telephones him almost daily about what CAF23 should be doing, although much of this could not or should not be done. Chou owes his advancement to Gimo and has no other recourse than to resign if he does not go on obeying these instructions. But if he resigned his successor would face same problem. Similarly Tang En-po describes himself as in similar predicament. Li added that Gimo is in position of energetic man without enough now to occupy his time.
I am, of course, taking no action with respect to these pleas, except to report them.
Sent Department 336; repeated Shanghai 149; OffEmb Canton 22.