893.00/12980: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Spiker) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10 p.m.]
Referring to my telegram of February 21, 4 p.m.,56 after unexpected silence at the time of the Chahar incident Hu Han-min made statement to press on March 1st denouncing Wang Ching-wei’s recent statement of policy as tantamount to declaration that China is protectorate of Japan. Hsiao Fu-chen has also issued denunciatory statement characterizing Wang and Marshal Chiang as betrayers of China. Hu’s statement no novelty but interesting in that it was issued on day previous to Major General Doihara’s call on Hu. Former arrived Canton this morning and is scheduled to confer with highest officials tomorrow afternoon. Hu today issued press statement as to interview in which he alleges he insisted that unless Japan “corrects all errors made and [Page 69] treats China with equality” cooperation between the two countries is impossible. Local authorities characterize Doihara’s visit as “of no substantial diplomatic significance.” While certain Southwest leaders support Hu and Hsiao number of others appear convinced that western powers have signally failed China and that Nanking has no option in the matter of new alliance.
- 2.
- According to local reports westward movements of Communist forces referred to in paragraph 3 of my telegram of February 21, 4 p.m., were blocked by Yunnanese who forced enemy to evacuate Yentsing on February 18th and other places occupied in Northern Yunnan towns following week, Communists then moving eastward into Kweichow occupying Chihshui on February 22nd, Tucheng on the 23rd, then continuing eastward. Other forces took Sungkan and Tungtze on the 25th and 26th, the Northern forces falling back to Tsunyi and Kikiang respectively. These Red forces believed to be endeavoring to join Ho Lung and Hsiao Ko on Hunan-Szechuan-Kweichow border. Synchronizing with this eastward thrust through North Kweichow between six and nine thousand Communists under Yeh Chien-ying are reported to have made sudden southward movement from Hingkwo and Yutu, Kiangsi, then with others from Anyuan, swung westward against Sinfeng and Nankang in Southern Kiangsi, allegedly with the intention of crossing Southern Hunan en route to join Ho Lung and others in area named above. Heavy reenforcements were rushed by General Yu Han-mou and Northern leaders to Sinfeng, Nankang and Kanhsien areas on February 28th to meet this threat and heavy fighting is reported to be in progress.
- 3.
- Troop movements from Canton westward have ceased but local leaders state that Kwangsi troops in Kweichow and Kwangtung troops in Kwangsi will remain where they are now pending clarification of the Kweichow situation. In the meantime Northern leaders in Kweichow are reported to have completed plans for rerouting of that Province’s trade to the Yangtze. Once conditions permit of such rerouting Kwangsi and Kwangtung will be deprived of large revenue hitherto obtained from Kweichow trade. Southern military leaders further disquieted by this added evidence of Nanking’s tightening grip, also by attitude of Yunnan leaders in relation to Nanking’s military appointment of Yunnan leaders to command of Communist forces along Yunnan Kweichow frontier, thus snubbing leaders of Kwangtung-Kwangsi joint expedition to Kweichow.
- 4.
- Admiral Kiang returned to Canton for conference after his two cruisers referred to in my telegram February 21, 4 p.m., were at Hong Kong for cleaning of their hulls. Both cruisers returned to Whampoa on February 28th.
- Not printed.↩