Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎197v] (402/978)

22
recent referendum. At the referendum
51 'per cent, of the total electorate were in
favour of joining Pakistan; but since only
65 per cent, of this electorate voted at the
last election, this result may be taken as
indicating that there is, in fact, a sub
stantial majority in the country who
support union with Pakistan, despite the
fact that Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Red-
shirts boycotted the referendum. The Red-
shirts is a popular movement of the towns
which has been the main support of the
Congress Ministry, the only Ministry
functioning in the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan.
Province since the 1936 Government of
India Act. Abdul Ghaffar Khan is a
brother of Dr. Khan Sahib, an ex-Congress
Premier of the Province.
The Prime Minister, Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Shah Mah
mud Khan, is now visiting London as the
guest of His Majesty’s Government. On
the 30th July ho was received by His
Majesty, and a dinner in his honour was
given by Mr. Bevin. On the 31st July he
was entertained at a luncheon given by
Mr. Attlee. It is hoped that this visit, by
cementing Anglo-Afghan friendship, w^l
reduce the likelihood of trouble breakup
cut in the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. area on the
withdrawal of British forces from India
(see Summary No. 392). From London
Shah Mahmud Khan will proceed to
America, where he will be received by
Mr. Marshall. It is expected that Ameri
can economic assistance to Afghanistan
will form a principal subject for dis
cussion.
Corrigendum
Summary No. 401, p. 19, “ Persia,”
line 2 : Insert “ their claim to ” between
“ bolster up ” and “ Bahrein.”
THE FAR EAST
China
Interest in Nanking political circles is
centred almost exclusively in the visit of
President Truman’s special representative,
General Wedemeyer. He and his party
arrived in Nanking on 22nd July, and
almost immediately the General issued a
communique re-stating that his mission
is to make an appraisal of the “ existing
overall situation in China and Korea and
their relative future capacities for rehabili
tation.”
No doubt due to press reports in Nanking
that the Executive Yuan has drawn up a
list of proposed schemes for economic
improvement and rehabilitation for
presentation to the United States Govern
ment through General Wedemeyer, two
days later the General's Publicity Officer
released another statement, reiterating the
fact-finding object of the mission and
adding that, under President Truman's
directive, General Wedemeyer was not
empowered to make comunications to, or
requests of, the Chinese Government—a
statement which is said to have had a
somewhat damping effect on the Govern
ment’s enthusiastic expectations of the
General’s appointment. Nevertheless,
reports of a statement credited to General
Wedemeyer that United States activities
might extend into Communist territory in
China and Northern Korea have provided
food for considerable speculation; and it is
widely thought that the despatch of this
mission provides proof of a change in
United States policy towards China. In
an editorial the China Press says in
support of this theory that the importance
of General Wedemeyer's visit provides
hope that before many months are out the
ill-defined, uncertain United States policy
in this part of the World will be put on a
solid and more permanent foundation.”
Certainly hopes are cherished in Govern
ment circles that it may mean the
beginning of unrestricted military and
material support for the Central Govern
ment. On the other hand, there is also some
apprehension lest General Wedemeyer's
appointment should spell yet another
endeavour to re-open peace negotiations
with the Communists—a course that would
not be at all to General Chiang Kai-shek’s
liking at the moment.
In the meantime the Central Government
have followed their general mobilisation
order with the cancellation of the seats
originally reserved for the Communist
Party in the State Council and the National
Assembly. And, their loud accusations of
Soviet aid to the Communist forces in Man
churia having failed to provide the world
wide sympathy and American dollars for
which they had hoped, the Central Govern
ment are now engaged in a determined
effort to demonstrate their ability to deal
effectively with the “ Communist rebel-
li 6 n ” in the field. Weather conditions in
Manchuria have necessitated a lull in
operations in that sphere, but the fan
faronade over the Szepingkai “victory”
has not been allowed to die down; while
much publicity is also being given to doubt
ful claims of substantial Government gains
in China proper—more particularly in the