893.00/11–2549: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Strong) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 25—2:17 p. m.]
Cantel 1300. Early in evening November 23 while I was drafting immediately preceding Cantel,82 Foreign Minister Yeh telephoned me at hotel to inquire whether President Li during interview that afternoon broached subject of trip to US. On receiving reply in affirmative, Yeh said Li, on arrival in Hong Kong, had asked him approach US authorities on matter; he had refused to do so, stating he must communicate first with Chungking; Premier Yen in return had requested him persuade Li return Chungking and promised bring American doctor to China; government could not afford have Li permit personal desire take precedence at this critical stage when there was hope of rapprochement between Generalissimo and Li; Chinese Embassy was being advised that Chinese Government wished Department delay acquiescence to Li’s visit, which White House would have to give before Li could make trip. Yeh asked whether I had made reply to request by Li; I answered I was not in position to do so. We [He?] then asked if Li had requested transmission of message to Department, which I affirmed. Next, he inquired whether Li had referred to Yeh’s refusal take matter up with Embassy. This I denied. Yeh said he was seeing Li at 8:00 (November 23) and needed this background and added he hoped Department would not encourage Li to take trip.
At noon on November 24 Yeh called at my hotel to state he had quite forcibly told Li that he must not take trip to US and resign there; that is, if he wished go US for medical attention, he should first proceed seat of government and resign presidency; then, as Vice [Page 608] President, he could go US for operation since Embassy in Washington had been instructed not to take matter of visit up with Department.
In this conversation, Yeh contradicted statement made earlier by phone, to effect there was hope of reconciliation between Generalissimo and Li. He admitted his sole purpose was to prevent Li from resigning in US; that Li was sick; that Li could hope for nothing from Generalissimo at any time; that if he were Li, he would not return to Chungking.
Yeh expressed belief that, if Li resigns, Generalissimo will resume presidency. He also said it is useless for Foreign Office and himself to join “mobile cabinet”, without proper means of communication with outside world. We believe he will be quite content to remain Hong Kong as long as possible in connection with airlines, National Resources Commission and BOTRA83 property disposition.
In Yeh’s opinion British will recognize Communists during recess of UNGA.84
Sent Department Cantel 1300, by hand Hong Kong.