This month marks the 80th Victory Anniversary of the Sino-Japanese War. The Chinese-Heritage Virtual Museum is proud to present Proclamation of the Chinese Government, A Manuscript Revised by President Chiang Kai-shek. This manuscript is not only a testimony to modern Chinese history, but also a bearer of our admiration for President Chiang Kai-shek, the wartime leader of China.

In addition, we have placed the documentary film Sacred War of China at the beginning of this article, a film produced by China Movie Studio during the presidency of Chiang Ching-kuo. We hope the real history of the Sino-Japanese War will be fully recognized by the world one day.

Curatorial and Editorial Department

Portrait of President Chiang Kai-shek

The Republic of China is currently celebrating the 80th Victory Anniversary of the Sino-Japanese War. In view of the notable public interest in the history of the Sino-Japanese War, I hereby present a treasured document from my collection: A Proclamation by the Chinese Government, Original Manuscript Edited by President Chiang Kai-shek. Reading this Proclamation today, we seem to return to an era when the very existence of the Chinese race was about to be eradicated. Between the lines, we are also able to acquire a spiritual affinity with the character and accomplishments of President Chiang Kai-shek. 

A Proclamation by the Chinese Government, Original Manuscript Edited by President Chiang Kai-shek was the former property of President Wang Chung-hui of the Judicial Yuan. He composed the text of the Proclamation during his tenure as foreign minister in the middle of the Sino-Japanese War. This manuscript was submitted to President Chiang for comment and came back with substantial revisions in his handwriting. When mainland China fell to the communists, Wang Chung-hui took this manuscript to Taiwan. It is plain how much he cherished it.

A Proclamation by the Chinese Government was written in late June in the 29th year of the Republic of China, or 1940. On 14 June that year, the German army breached the Maginot Line and occupied Paris. On 22 June France surrendered by signing the Franco-German Armistice. On 20 June, two days before surrendering, Japan pressured France to close the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway in order to cut off a major supply route to China. A Proclamation by the Chinese Government was composed to rebuke the French Government for this act. On 24 June Japan further requested Britain to close the Yunnan-Myanmar Highway, also known as the Burma Road, again to cut off the last major supply route to China. On 18 July Britain consented to its closure, and China lost all overseas supply routes. The Republic of China not only fought against Japan alone by herself from July 1937 onwards, she was frequently impaired by the conflicting interests of the World Powers. It was not until 7 December 1941 when Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour did China become one of the Allied nations. 

First page of A Proclamation by the Chinese Government

The full text of A Proclamation by the Chinese Government, Original Manuscript Edited by President Chiang Kai-shek reads:

“As attested by their geographic locations and transportation routes, the relationship between China and the French colony of Vietnam has always been very close. For many years, the two countries adjust their own interests according to their respective commercial and economic necessities. There is a tendency that both countries are now nearly inseparable. Vietnam in particular provides a supply route for our international transportation, greatly affecting our prosperity and security.

Regarding the French colony of Vietnam, there are already many treaties between China and France. The recent Special Treaty Between China and France Regulating the Relationships of Vietnam and Chinese Border Provinces was signed on 16 May 1930, and came into effect on 22 July 1935. According to this treaty, France will allow all kinds of cargo to pass through Vietnam, including arms and ammunition. Article Six clearly stipulates: ‘All military supplies, arms and ammunition transported through Tonkin by the Chinese Government should be tax free.’

Detail of first page of A Proclamation by the Chinese Government

According to the many resolutions passed by the League of Nations, all member nations including France should avoid any action that will impair China’s ability to resist Japanese aggression, and should individually consider means and extends to best assist China.

Second page of A Proclamation by the Chinese Government

In view of those French obligations listed above, the Chinese Government has the right to request the French Government to keep on maintaining the international transportation route of Vietnam. However this year, due to the difficult situation faced by France and our empathy for France, we no longer demand that arms and ammunition should pass through Vietnam.

This is the greatest gesture of friendship and the greatest extent of tolerance offered by the Chinese Government. The Chinese Government has already accommodated the wish of the French Government, compromising as much as possible, yet the French Government now reciprocates with a prohibition on all cargo traveling through Vietnam, blockading an important international transportation route to China. The dire consequence of this prohibition is the termination of international transportation to China. The Chinese Government considers this to be an extremely inimical act, unacceptable to the Chinese. France has no reason to blockade a friendly country, even more baseless in the contexts of her existing treaties and her existing obligations to the League of Nations.

By abruptly changing her position this time, the French Government will certainly encourage the disrupter of peace in the Far East. The Chinese Government cannot afford to be idle regarding this matter. The Chinese Government is convinced that the sole motive of any form of Japanese military aggression in Asia, the Pacific or any other region, is to obliterate the existence and independence of China. Therefore any form of Japanese military aggression in Asia, the Pacific or any other region, and those that interfere with the legitimate rights of China, especially those closely related to the Chinese economy and transportation, will be reciprocated by all necessary measures. Such measures, coerced by Japan, are meant to secure the existence, independence and legitimate rights of China. We hereby make this Proclamation.”

The Proclamation clearly illustrates the challenges and perils of international relationship in the first five years of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. There is a sentence in the last paragraph, edited by President Chiang Kai-shek, that says:

“The Chinese Government is convinced that the sole motive of any form of Japanese military aggression in Asia, the Pacific or any other region, is to obliterate the existence and independence of China.”

This sentence is still ample to invoke much lingering pain eighty five years afterwards. 

Detail of second page of A Proclamation by the Chinese Government