CHINESE NATIONALISTS CONCERNED OVER AMERICAN CRITICISM IN SUN CASE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01172R000300070017-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2006
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: September 29, 1955
• Content Type: MF

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OCI No. 5789/55 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Copy No. 4 OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
29 September 1955
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director (Intelligence)
SUBJECT Chinese Nationalists Concerned Over American
Criticism in Sun Case
A decision appears imminent in the case of General Sun
Li-jen, who was forced to resign his post as personal chief
of staff to Chiang Kai-shek last month amid charges of involve-
ment in a Communist plot. Nationalist concern over American
reaction to the case suggests Sun will escape harsh punishment
but faces forced retirement in disgrace.
Early in September the Nationalist government information
bureau directed newspapers and magazines to avoid comment on
the Sun case. Since then the press has been silent on the
subject, except for scattered factual references.
On 11 August, the Nationalist vice minister of foreign
affai
Sh
rs,
en Chang-huan, was sent to the United States
One semiofficial Nationalist spokesman has informed
American officials in Taipei that Sun wou
treated. i
Taipei's apparent concern over possible adverse American
reaction to the case, plus the desire of Nationalist leaders
to present a facade of internal solidarity and support for the
government, makes .t,unlikely Sun will be found guilty of treason
and shot. The best treatment he can hope for, however, is
forced retirement under continued close surveillance.
State Dept. review completed
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Sun's friends, many of whom are pro-American, are re-
ported to believe that only strong American intervention can
save the general's life and are depressed by developments in
the case. The morale of these men can be expected to remain
low even if Sun escapes severe punishment since they'regard
the general's removal as a victory for old Kuomintang con-
cepts in military, social and governmental affairs.
These views will probably come to be shared by other
Western-oriented Chinese on Formosa not directly associated
with Sun, who will interpret Sun's downfall as further evidence
of increased power for the authoritarian faction on Formosa 25X1
headed by the generalissimo's elder son Chiang Ching-kuo. Nor
will the lesson of Sun's downfall be lost on civil and military
officials still serving the Nationalist government.
Acting Assistant irec or,
Current Intelligence
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