Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East: China, Volume VII

893.00/4–448: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, April 4, 1948—9 p. m.
[Received April 4—11:24 a. m.]

768. Chang Kia-ngau⁷⁷ informs me:

1. Chiang Kai-shek is today informing Kmt that he will not accept Presidency and recommends election of Hu Shih.⁷⁸

2. Generalissimo has done this: (a) to justify his long stay in Ruling; (b) to get military to fight war, not scramble for office.

3. He thinks Generalissimo is not making mere gesture, but Kmt may force Generalissimo to accept Presidency.

4. He is sure Hu Shih will not accept and believes Generalissimo will then support some elder statesman he can control.

5. He is moderately optimistic impact of this development plus American aid on Chinese public opinion.

Sent Department, repeated Nanking as 546.

Cabot

77. Governor of the Central Bank of China.
78. Chancellor of National Peking University.