Office of the Historian

893.00/4–2749: Telegram

The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State

Canton, April 27, 1949—11 a. m.
[Received April 27—5:15 a. m.]

Cantel 282. Vernacular press reports CEC68 decided April 25 send Wu Teh-chen and Li Wen-fan69 [to] Kweilin ask Li Tsung-jen come Canton. Member CEC has informed Embassy confidentially that CEC knew at time this decision made that Li did not wish to receive such a delegation since Li had previously informed CEC that he was coming Canton later, but at his own convenience, after he had had rest Kweilin. Li’s message suggested politely that he wished spare delegation inconvenience unnecessary trip.

Li’s adviser, Chu Chang-wei, states delegation has not left Canton and that he had informed Wu Teh-chen that trip would be complete waste time as Li will not be at home to anyone next few days.

CEC move ostensibly designed as gesture support designed virtually force him come Canton. Li apparently determined remain Kweilin in attempt force issue with Generalissimo. (Reference Cantel 266, April 25.)

Sent Department Cantel 282, repeated Nanking 227, Shanghai 178.

Clark
  1. Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang.↩
  2. Member of the National Policy Advisory Committee and former Vice President of the Chinese Judicial Yuan.↩