Co
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
59
CHINA
CONFIDENTIAL.
[F 2998/2998/10]
April 29, 1940.
SECTION 1.
Copy No. 107
Report by Sir Stafford Cripps on the Position in China.-(Received in Foreign Office, April 29, 1940.)
IT will be convenient to divide this report into a number of different sections dealing with various subjects, though many of these are closely inter-related, and in some places this will entail a certain degree of repetition. I make no attempt to give detailed figures or statistics except occasionally by way of example, as my object is rather to give a broad view of the present state of affairs with the aim of assisting the formulation of policy. At the conclusion of the report I make a number of detailed recommendations upon the assumption that it is the object of the British Government to give China such assistance as is possible in the circumstances. This report is divided into the following sections:-
(1) The scope of the enquiry.
(2) General background as it affects the present situation.
(3) Military position.
(4) Political situation.
(5) Finance.
(6) Transport.
(7) Economic reconstruction.
(8) Social reconstruction.
(9) Foreign relations.
(10) Sinkiang.
(11) Tokyo visit.
(12) Recommendations.
I
2. The course of my travels in China took me by road from Lashio to Kunming with stops in Paoshan and Talifu. I remained five days in Kunming and then flew on to Chungking, where I spent nearly a month on and off. Ĭ visited Chengtu by road, stopping at Nikiang on the way and later en route for Sinkiang visited Lanchow and Suchow. I then flew out to Hong Kong and went by sea to Shanghai. From there I flew to Tokyo and then returned to Hong Kong via Formosa and Canton, and so back. During my visit to Sinkiang, I flew to Moscow and back, but I do not deal with that in this report. Every possible facility was given me by the Central and Provincial Governments to see every- thing I wished, and I was fully supplied with all the available material for which I asked.
3. The Generalissimo sent a delegation down to Rangoon to meet me and to accompany me to Kunming, so that I might get as much information and back- ground as possible on my way into China. The delegation consisted of Mr. W. H. Donald, Mr. Sung of the Department of Communications, and Mr. Yun of the Economics Department. I also met at Rangoon Mr. Yseng, the Vice- Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the consul-general. After arrival at Chungking, Dr. Kung put at my disposal Mr. O. H. Hsia, the secretary of the Bank of China, who remained with me the entire time till I left China.
4. During many talks with Donald, I was given a full description of events and personalities during the last thirty years in China, during which time he has been intimately connected with the movement of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, with the Young Marshal, and now with the Generalissimo and Mme. Chiang Kai-shek. His position is a unique one as he lives in the next house to the Generalissimo and takes all his meals with them. He goes away with Madame when she visits Hong Kong for a rest and is extremely intimate with both of them. He has no official position, but a great deal of attention is paid to his advice, especially by Madame, who, with Donald, is often in opposition to the Generalissimo's line of action in particular matters. He maintains close contact with the British and American Embassies, but not with any other foreign representatives. Though he prides
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