Memorandum re Nationalist China Lobby

Any definition of a Nationalist China Lobby would seem to divide into two parts - "Volunteers and well wishers of Nationalist China - unpaid for propagandizing in China's favor, and "those paid for maintaining propaganda, particularly as to legislative and public opinion purposes, in favor of China's receiving aid for this and that." Another division of the proposed inquiry suggests itself in the question - Are Chinese as well as Americans to be suggested as names for investigation? It is assumed that they are, since, if Americans were engaged in a China Lobby, it must have been Chinese who made the approaches to them. On the latter assumption, every Chinese Ambassador who has served in Washington from January 1, 1946, to date could be assumed to be a propagandist for the Chinese Nationalists, as well as the entire informa- tion department of the Chinese government, its press and publicity bureaus. The outstanding name in this connection, of course, is Hollington K. Tong, a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, who directed Chinese Government publicity during the long struggle of China with the Japanese. He was closely associated with the Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and would undoubtedly have assisted in putting out propa- ganda favorable to the Nationalist Cause of China after the war as well as during it. Next in importance on a list of Chinese guilty of lobbying in Washington in the interests of the Nationalist Government of China would be T. V. Soong, at various times Finance Minister, Premier, Governor of the Central Bank, and, in 1947-1948 - after resigning the premiership - Governor of Kwangtung with supervisory powers (military and civil) in three ARCHIVES AND other South China Provinces. It can scarcely be assumed, however, that in his capacity as a prominent member of the functioning hierarchy of the Nationalist Chinese Government that he could be considered as a lobbyist in the ordinary sense. He visited the United States frequently and conferred with U. S. Government officials with regard to aid. It was said, and popularly believed "about town" in China, in U. S. Government circles in 1946-1947, and later that there was some sort of a tie-up between T.V. Soong and Tommy Corcoran, former adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and that Corcoran was paid $100,000 a year to guide T. V. Soong in matters related to China-USA relations in those years. Whether this has continued, or not, is not known. There is no evidence which can be submitted in this memorandum that such a relationship existed. It was hearsay. Whether giving advice constitutes lobbying is a legal point, and whether duties assumed by Corcoran were only advice and not lobbying would have to be investigated and proved, or disproved. It is understood that T. V. Soong took asylum in the United States soon after the Communists seized Shanghai. If such a lobby still exists, it would seem that it must be rated a failure since one sees little in favor of the Chinese Nationalists in print these days. Among Americans a name which suggests itself as likely to know whether such a lobby existed or whether it has existed between 1946 and the present is William Hunt, head of William Hunt & Co., New York. The company DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guideline, June 12, 1979 By NLT- HL NARS, Date 7-17-fo