Office of the Historian

893.01/684: Telegram

The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Stanton) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, March 22, 1940—7 p.m.
[Received March 23—7:30 a.m.]

21. Nanking’s 20, March 21, 7 p.m.88 At the closing session of the “Central Political Conference” today the regulations for the organization of the “North China Political Affairs Commission” were passed and the “liquidation of the Chungking régime was unanimously adopted”. In connection with the latter resolution it was decided that (a) all laws, decrees, contracts, obligations, treaties and agreements entered into by the National Government at Chungking shall be invalidated from the time of the “return of the National Government to its capital at Nanking”, (b) “orders be issued to the men in the field to cease hostilities immediately” and (c) that “all civil servants now in Chungking are to be ordered to return to Nanking and report for duty.”

The personnel of the “National Government” was passed, it being decided that Wang Ching-wei is to act for Lin Sen89 “prior to the latter’s return to the capital”. The former was also nominated President of the Executive Yuan and Minister of the Navy. Liang Hung-chih was named President of the Control Yuan but only three or four other members of the “Reformed Government” appear in the list of personnel. Chu Min-yi and Chou Fu-hai were named Ministers of Foreign affairs and Finance respectively. Wang Keh-min heads the “North China Political Affairs Commission” but does not appear to have been included in the personnel of the new “National Government”.

General Itagaki90 granted foreign press correspondent an interview this afternoon. He is reported to have stated that Japan intended to adhere to the policies set forth in the Konoye statement91 and also that a return to the normal could not be expected so long as hostilities continued. When asked what would be the policy of the new government vis-à-vis foreign rights and interests he is reported to have replied that he believed it would be one of “conciliation and moderation”.

Repeated to Peiping, Chungking and Shanghai.

Stanton
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. President of the Chinese National Government since December 1931.↩
  3. Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief of Japanese Expeditionary Force in China.↩
  4. December 22, 1938, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 482.↩