Evening star., 1951-06-12
Merger Of Factions
Was Impossibi!ity,
Hearing Is Told

testimony BY 1t. Gen. Albert c.
Wedemeyer before a Joint Sem
ate committee Investigating Far
Eastern policy follotDS:
j (Senator Mcmahon opened the
session with reference to a speech
by Gen. Wedemeyer in August,
1947, in which the general cited
reports of corruption throughout
China. While the speech dealt
leniently with many low-paid
government officials, it empha-
sized the, activity of certain
wealthy Chinese families in in
creasing their holdings at the ex-
pense Of the people. Senator
Mcmahon quoted other sections of
the address in which Gen. Wede-
meyer said that "it has been con-
servatively estimated in America
that they tthe Chinese National
tsts) could raise at least 81 billion
In United States currency" from
the Chinese living here. Gen.
Wedemeyer was asked If he could
identify some of those to whom
he referred. The general replied
that he had a list of 10 names
which he turned over to a Chinese
IN China. He also said that Chang
became very angry when he re-
fused to give it to him.
Senator McMahon- Dur
ing your mission to China you re-
ported on August II, 1947. to the
Secretary of State as follows:
Our experience in Formosa is
most enlightening. The admin
istration Of the former Governor
Chen vi has alienated the people
from the Central government
Many were forced to feel that con-
ditions under autocratic rule were
preferable. The Central govern
Ynent, lost a fine opportunity to in
dicate to the Chinese people and
to the world at large its capability
to provide honest and efficient ad-
ministration. They cannot at
tribute their failure to the activ-
ities of the Communists or of dis
sident elements. The people an
ticipated sincerely and enthusi-
astically deliverance from the jap
anese yoke. However. Chen vi
and his henchmen ruthlessly, cor
ruptly and avariciously imposed
their regime upon happy and
amenable population. The Army
conducted themselves as conquer
ors. Secret police operated freely
to intimidate and to facilitate ex-
ploitation by Central government
officials
Slender Reed, But Important.
And then further on:
"They fear that the Central
Government contemplates bleed
ing their island to support the
tottering and corrupt Marking
machine and I think their fears
well founded
That, general, was what you
believed in 1947 about the situa-
ton in Formosa?
Gen. Wedemeyer-Senator Nc
Mahon, it was not only what I
believed but it was the result of
personal observation. I toured the
island when I was out there
I should say, sir, that the pro-
visional governor, Chen vi. who
was appointed there. you may re-
call yesterday that I recommended
to the Generalissimo that he not
appoint military men to civilian
posts. And he didn't carry
out my recommendation. I at
tribute it partly to that. sir.
I was depressed when I saw the
deterioration that had taken place
in the period between AS and Al
and that runs throughout my re-
port. >.
Senator McMahon-So. general,
we leaned on a pretty weak reed,
didn't we?
Gen. Wedemeyer-Yes, sir, but
I thought still an important reed
that we should not desert en-
tirely. I wouldn't say that we
should have just given up entirely,
Senator Mcmahon. any more. than
we gave up some of our allies in
Europe when they were down and