893.00/12706
The Counselor of Legation in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that taking advantage of the presence in Nanking of Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, who was appointed on February 7, 1934, Vice Bandit Suppression Commissioner for the Provinces of Honan, Hupeh and Anhwei, I asked Marshal Chang for an appointment and called on him on February 22 at 11 a.m. Marshal Chang is living in the modern-style residence built by ex-Minister of Finance Mr. T. V. Soong on a commanding hill in the center of Nanking, called Peichiko.
I had met Marshal Chang several times before I left the American Legation in 1926 and had seen him again here in Nanking following my arrival at this post in 1931. I had heard that his health was greatly improved by his breaking off certain drug addictions and by his recent tour in Europe, but was agreeably surprised by his physical fitness, mental alertness and personal charm.
There has been made in China a considerable effort to discredit Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, because of his alleged lack of patriotism in failing to defend Manchuria against Japanese invasion. His defence of his action is said to be that he merely followed instructions received from General Chiang Kai-shek. I have heard arguments from Chinese officials both for and against Marshal Chang’s actions on and following September 18, 1931, when the Mukden Incident [Page 53] occurred, but apparently the main factor in keeping Marshal Chang in the good graces of the National Government has been the esteem and friendship felt for him by Mr. T. V. Soong. However this may be, Marshal Chang and General Chiang Kai-shek had many conferences recently at Hangchow and, as already indicated, Marshal Chang has been given an appointment which constitutes him, in point of fact, one of the principal props of General Chiang Kai-shek in Central China. Many prophecies and conjectures have been based on this appointment as, for instance, that it was done for the purpose of removing the “Northeast Troops”, formerly under Marshal Chang’s command, from the Peiping area to Central China, with the secondary object of enabling General Chiang Kai-shek to remove his own troops from Hupeh and Kiangsi for use against Canton.
On meeting Marshal Chang I was able to believe that General Chiang was influenced in giving Marshal Chang his present appointment only by a feeling that Marshal Chang has qualities which will make him a valuable support of the National Government and that no consideration of troop disposition necessarily entered into the decision. While the “Young Marshal” formerly derived his claim for consideration solely from the fact that he is the son of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, he impressed me as being able now to stand on his own feet as an intelligent and patriotic leader.
My conversation with Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang naturally turned on his recent European tour. Prompted partly by observations and questions from me, Marshal Chang made in regard to his trip comments which indicated that he had benefited very much from his experience.
Marshal Chang said that it had been his desire, after returning to the Orient, to visit Japan, but he had been deterred by fear of the inferences which the Chinese public might draw from such a visit. He said that he had wished very much to go to Japan to try to find out for himself the political trend which the Japanese Government is following. He observed that the Japanese army is under the control of the younger class of officers. These young officers are full of daring ideas, but they have no outstanding leader, and consequently will be unable to carry out any consistent policy, although they will be able to influence strongly the conduct of internal and international policies. The result is that no one can foresee what policy the Japanese Government will follow, either internally or internationally.
The late Japanese Minister of War, General Araki, was to a great extent an exponent of the views of the younger Japanese officers, but they strongly condemn him for opposing the proposal to seize Eastern Siberia soon after the Mukden Incident, at a time when [Page 54] Soviet military preparations for defence were inadequate. On this account, Araki became so unpopular that when he resigned from his post of Minister of War and wished to remain in his official residence a few days, because of his bad health, the younger officers sent him an insolent demand that he and his family vacate the official residence immediately.
Marshal Chang said that Japan presented some insolvable problems, e. g. how is Japan able to export its manufactures and sell them in almost every country in the world at prices lower than the cost of the raw materials of the same articles in those countries; how long will Japan be able to continue its efforts to create a fleet equal to that of the United States and an army equal to that of the Soviet Union?
Marshal Chang said that he had met Mussolini twice and was greatly impressed by him. He had met Hitler once,61 and received the impression that Hitler, while an outstanding revolutionist, totally lacked the constructive and administrative ability of Mussolini. I mentioned the observation that has been made that Lenin, Mussolini and Hitler owe the success of the political movements which they have conducted to the fact that in each case a nation apparently at the end of its resources has been shown a “way of salvation” and restoration to former greatness and I inquired whether Marshal Chang did not think that the military party in Japan was holding up a policy of military and continental expansion as the means of saving Japan, and whether that was not the source of the popular leadership which the military party in Japan seems to exercise. Marshal Chang said that the European leaders whom I had mentioned and also the political programs which they sponsored had risen from the people and culminated in governments; in Japan, on the other hand, political measures are sponsored by the Government, which seeks to impress such policies and measures on the people. In Japan, therefore, political policies have much less chance of receiving popular support.
Judging from the number and type of persons waiting to see Marshal Chang at the time of my call, I should say that he is enjoying great popularity in the National capital. I was interested to see that his demeanor was courteous and democratic to everyone.
I spoke to Marshal Chang about my colleague, Mr. Adams, American Consul General at Hankow, and expressed the hope that Marshal Chang and Mr. Adams would become well acquainted. Marshal Chang reciprocated this hope.
Very respectfully yours,
- This seems to have been an error, according to the Consul General at Hankow (despatch No. 423, March 8, filed under 893.00/12720).↩