Telegram from Acting Secretary of State Robert Lovett to Clark Clifford

132323Z White 36 DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) TOP BECRET Dept. of State letter, Aug. 9, 1973 Bas MLS. Hi NARS Date 7-2076 TELEGRAM oivil unrest and sakdown that FOR MR. CLARK CLIFFORD FROM LOVETT FOR TRANSMISSION TO resident THE PRESIDENT. No. 2206 Following message/dated November 13 has just been re- ceived from Ambassador Stuart at Nanking: QUOTE Principal military forces remaining to government are presently or shortly will be engaged between Nanking and Hsuchow. There is no significant government force in terms of regular troops to south of Yangtze. It appears probable that Communists will succeed in destroying government forces pouttion north of river within ten days to two weeks. When this oc- curs, government cannot long defend Nanking-Shanghai area, and will either disintegrate or be forced to flee to some other point in China. Generalissimo still intends fight as long as possible. While there is growing opposition this as course in government circles, Generalissimo still controls acute army and his policy will probably prevail. QUOTE Given Generelissimo's determination continue war, condition unless he should be removed by coup, upon which we should not count, we do not anticipate orderly transfer power from present to successor government. We believe sporadic and Mhis largely unorganized resistance to Communists will persist in Canton Coneular south and central China for some time, with high incidence distriots civil ARCHIVES AND RECORDS NATIONAL TOP SECRET SERVICE 100 the TOP SEORET