893.00/7–1746: Telegram
The Appointed Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 17—10:18 a.m.]
1155. Following from Kunming.
[No. 65, July 15.] My 64, July 12. Wen I-to, prominent member of Democratic League, assassinated and son critically injured at 6 o’clock this evening; riddled by heavy gun fire. Reliably ascertained through brother of garrison commander’s adjutant that instructions given to Special Service to assassinate ranking members of Democratic League in Kunming and that Tsu Tu-nan, chairman of League’s Yunnan branch and Yunto40 professor, and Chao Feng, League’s provincial secretary, also slated for assassination tonight.
Consulate General, in effort forestall terrorism, has given sanctuary to Tsu, Chao, nine other leading members of League and their families, majority of whom [are] professors at Kunming universities. At 7:30 I called on garrison commander, was told he was “indisposed”, and talked with his chief of staff. I informed him of the death of Wen I-to of which he stated he was not informed but that it must have been result of Communist plot. I further stated that out of humanitarian concern for lives of certain other Kunming residents who felt their lives threatened, Consulate General had provided them with sanctuary. I requested chief of staff send guard which is now outside Consulate. Called on garrison commander again at 10 o’clock and requested personal interview but was informed he had retired early suffering from “high blood pressure”. Chief of staff then informed me that assassination result of Communist plot to embarrass Government (this explanation also offered in anonymous handbills circulated day after assassination Li Kung-pu); in view of rumors in Kunming that garrison headquarters Secret Service were responsible for death of Li that garrison headquarters has carefully avoided sending its men to university grounds or area previous murder.
There is considerable evidence indicating that assassinations were carefully planned and would probably continue. It is possible that reactionary elements fearing necessity of eventual compromise with liberal elements had decided eliminate these elements entirely regardless of immediate political consequences, and that assassinations in Kunming are less harmful politically than in Nanking, Shanghai or Peking, where League members planned return shortly.
[Page 1381]Under present conditions of terrorism, League members now staying in Consulate, reluctant to leave unless their safety guaranteed by “responsible” government quarters or general national political settlement reached. These persons also considering possibility seeking sanctuary in Hong Kong as Li Kung-pu had planned before assassination.
Group now at Consulate headed by Pan Kuang-tan and Fei Hsiao-tung feel following conditions presented by them are an essential step toward solution immediate tension created by assassinations:
- (1)
- Cessation of terrorism in Kunming at once;
- (2)
- Guarantee of the personal safety of all members of the Democratic League and all others who are working for the cause of democracy and peace.
- (3)
- Organization and despatch of a committee to investigate the Kunming assassination to be composed of representatives from the Government, the League and from General Marshall.
It is not believed that persons now in Consulate General could leave under present conditions without possibility of further assassinations.
Please wire instructions McGeary.41