Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The Far East, Volume IV

893.01/704: Telegram

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

Nanking, March 30, 1940—2 p.m.
[Received March 31—12:45 a.m.]

28. Nanking’s 26, March 27, 6 a.m. [p.m.]⁹⁷ At a brief ceremony this morning, which included the paying of homage to Sun Yat Sen and the reading of his will, Wang Ching Wei and the other members of the new “National Government” took office.⁹⁸

Mr. Wang read a proclamation which inter alia set forth the “mission of the National Government” and its political program. As released for publication this program is

1. To adopt a policy of good neighborliness and through peace, diplomacy, secure the independence and integrity of China’s sovereignty and administration to enable her to share the responsibility for the establishment of permanent peace and a new order in East Asia.

2. To respect the legitimate rights and interests of friendly powers, to readjust Sino-foreign relations, and to promote Sino-foreign friendship.

3. To unite with all friendly powers for the purpose of counteracting the subversive and peace disturbing activities of the Communist International.

4. To rehabilitate the troops who support peace and national reconstruction, to pacify and settle the guerilla units, to organize a national defense army, and to eliminate the respective functions of military administration and military command with the object of destroying military dictatorship.

5. To establish various grades of representative organs of the people, to enlist people of ability from every walk of life, and to consolidate national public opinion in order to build up the foundation of democracy.

6. To convene a National Assembly, to enact a constitution and to enforce constitutional government.

7. To invite the participation of foreign capital and the technical cooperation of friendly powers in the economic rehabilitation and industrial development of the country.

8. To promote foreign trade with a view to secure equilibrium in the balance of international payments, to establish the Central Bank of China and unify the currency system with a view to stabilizing the financial system.

9. To readjust the system of taxation with a view to lessening the burden of the people, to rehabilitate the rural districts by rendering relief to homeless refugees in order that they may return to their homes and resume their peaceful vocations.

10. To adopt anti-communism, peace and national reconstruction as the guiding principles in the educational policy, to promote scientific education and discard all misleading tendencies in the educational system of the past.

The proclamation also asserted that “henceforth the National Government is the only legal government within the country and hereafter any decree issued to the nation and any treaty and agreement entered into by the Chungking regime with foreign powers will automatically be invalid.”

In conclusion the hope was expressed that the “Chungking regime will sink all prejudices and cooperate in devising ways and means to readjust the present situation and tide over the national crisis.”

During the course of a speech made by Mr. Wang at a press reception given after the inauguration ceremony he is quoted as having stated with a view to clarifying the attitude of the “National Government” towards third powers and their nationals that “we shall respect all the legitimate and equitable rights and interests of friendly nations on the sacred principles of equality, reciprocity and mutual respect and it is our sincere hope that we shall be able to number all nations in the ranks of our friends. It is my hope that with the return of the National Government to its capital the powers will realize that Chungking has now been reduced to the status of a regional refugee regime. Certainly we expect the cessation of active sympathy and support towards that peace disturbing regime. The Chungking regime will sooner or later sink all prejudices and cooperate with us in readjusting the present situation. It is therefore improper for others to interfere in China’s internal affairs and put obstacles to the realization of permanent peace in East Asia”. Mr. Wang also referred to currency matters and in this connection is reported to have stated: “I can assure you that it will be our policy to maintain a stable currency the details of which are now being worked out by the Ministry of Finance. Every effort will be made to save the people from losses in consequence of the depreciation of the dollar and the present confusion of the currency system. It is our aim to devise a currency system which will both meet the requirements of the Chinese people and satisfy the needs of legitimate foreign trade.”

Various meetings, parades and theatrical programs are planned for today but the rainy weather may dampen curiosity. A number of Japanese and foreign correspondents who arrived late last night, because their train was partially derailed just outside of Nanking, were present at the inaugural ceremony.

Repeated to Peiping, Chungking and Shanghai, airmail to Tokyo.

Stanton

97. Not printed.
98. For translation of statement by the Japanese Government issued at Tokyo, see telegram No. 215, March 30, 8 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 60.