893.00/4–2849: Telegram
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
Cantel 291. Process disintegration anti-Communist elements China continues. Tung Kwang-hsien, president Legislative Yuan, is leaving Canton today with family “for trip abroad”. He admits to me that he has set date for opening Legislative Yuan May 6, but C–C Clique will that time control Legislative Yuan and would likely unseat him even though he remained Canton. He confirms press report Kmt idea of creating supreme policy-making body, “special war committee”, its membership to include Li Tsung-jen, Sun Fo, Wu Tieh-chen, Chen Li-fu73 and president[s] of five yuans. This body would work in close cooperation with Gimo as director general Kmt and Legislative and Control Yuans would be suppressed for duration “war”.
Tung Kwang-hsien thinks situation hopeless. Although anti-Communists, confronted as they are with harsh Communist peace terms, should unite in resistance, he sees each individual looking at matter solely with his personal interests in view, with result there is increased fragmentation rather than unity. He is convinced Li Tsung-jen will not be fooled by any such special war committee as that C–C Clique envisages. Tung believes Li means business and that if he cannot obtain recognition his authority all anti-Communist China, including Taiwan, he will either retire Kwangsi or go abroad. Tung does not believe Li will accept to go down in history as leading armies doomed to certain defeat as will most certainly be case if he is unable obtain full recognition his authority. He agrees Gimo will under no circumstances voluntarily release authority. He sees therefore only further fragmentation and eventual Communist domination.
Tung confirms Li’s unsuccessful efforts defend Yangtze, citing as example his inability enforce his authority defense Tikiang where Communists crossed Yangtze in first instance. He said that Li, knowing threat, asked Tang En-po for three divisions to counter it. Tang refused under Gimo’s orders, but finally sent one division Tikiang and that division immediately defected to Communists. With some feeling he gave me details of Li’s inability even to pick police commissioner Nanking because of Gimo’s obstruction.
Tung is not so certain of support Kwangtung generals of Li. Li, he thinks, can count on support Chang Fa-kwei. Hsueh Yueh has intimate [Page 284] relations with Chen Cheng, governor Taiwan, ardent supporter Gimo, and may hesitate render unqualified support Li. Yu Han-mou, he says, feels strongly on neither one side or other and will go with tide. Ho Ying-chin is a weakling who agrees with the man with whom he is talking.
As pointed out Cantel 287, April 27, repeated Nanking 228, Shanghai 180, it seems to me that spirit of sauve qui peut so permeates thinking of leaders anti-Communist China and that it is so certain Gimo will not irrevocably relinquish his authority we can expect the further fragmentation Tung Kwang-hsien forces and collapse of organized resistance earlier than we had hitherto thought. As I gather that despite public announcements to contrary Li will not come Canton unless he is assured authority he demands, I plan, weather permitting in next day or so, fly Kweilin see Li in effort obtain direct from him confirmation reports his emissaries Canton. Tung tells me Ho Ying-chin flying Kweilin today. If, as anticipated, Ho’s visit unsuccessful, Li’s decision should have been taken when I arrive and pattern immediate future events determined.
Sent Department; repeated Nanking 230, Shanghai 13.