William Henry Donald | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1875-07-22)22 July 1875 Lithgow, New South Wales |
| Died | 9 November 1946(1946-11-09) (aged 71) Shanghai |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Known for | Journalism News reporterAdvisor to Zhang Xueliang |
| Spouse | Mary Wall |
| Children | Muriel Mary |
William Henry Donald (22 June 1875,Lithgow,New South Wales – 9 November 1946,Shanghai) was an Australian journalist who worked inChina from 1903 untilWorld War II.[1][2] He had considerable direct and indirect influence on events in China, as expressed in a biography.[2]
WH Donald began his career as a journalist at theLithgow Mercury, the local paper of his hometown. He then worked as journalist/editor at theBathurstNational Advocate, theSydneyDaily Telegraph and theMelbourneArgus. In 1901, he was recruited toHong Kong to work forThe China Mail.[3]
He became a successful journalist atThe China Mail, culminating in his resignation as managing editor in 1908 to write about the history of the press inChina andHong Kong.
He influenced a short war between Russia and Japan over China in Japan's favour, but later initiated—through a deliberately provocative newspaper article—an uprising against Japanese imperialism.[2]
In 1911, he moved toShanghai, where he became a key editor to the economics monthlyFar Eastern Review. At the same time he befriendedCharlie Soong, the wealthy publisher and father of theSoong sisters, and had known "the present Mesdames Kung, Sun and Chiang [when they] were small children."[4] He resigned from theFar Eastern Review after the managing editor, George Rea, pushed for a more pro-Japanese line for the journal. While in Hong Kong, he made the decision not to learn the Chinese language, and found this to his advantage for the Chinese knew that with him they were assured of the privacy of their conversations.[5] He became a friend and advisor toSun Yat-Sen and toGeneralissimo and Mme.Chiang Kai-shek.[6] He was also an advisor to the "Young Marshal"Zhang Xueliang, the general who kidnapped Chiang Kai-shek atXi'an in December 1936; some years before the kidnapping, Donald had arranged a cure for Zhang's drug addiction.[7] Emily Hahn described him as having "what is probably the only non-irritating bedside manner in the world. He has vigorous health, vigorous principles and vigorous plans. He does not drink, smoke or tell lies."[8]
In order to force the issue to establish a united front against the Japanese invasion, Young MarshallZhang Xueliang kidnappedGeneralissimo Chiang Kai-shek in what became known as theXi'an Incident. Donald was the special envoy to Xi'an sent bySoong Mei-ling to negotiate for Chiang's release. He played a pivotal role in convincing his old friendZhang Xueliang and theCCP to release Chiang. After several rounds of negotiations, Chiang was released to a plane bound for Nanjing escorted by Zhang. When the plane arrived in Nanjing, Zhang was immediately arrested and was incarcerated, staying in prison in China and, later, Taiwan, for more than fifty years. Chiang Kai-shek recorded in his diary that Zhang Xueliang "denied having known beforehand of the revolt and tried soothingly to argue with his chief".[9]
Donald left Chiang Kai-shek's headquarters atChongqing in May 1940, after a disagreement with the generalissimo over Chinese policy towards Germany. At this time, the British ambassador described him as a "garrulous old man". However, in early 1942, after touring the Pacific in 1940–41, he set out, at Madame Chiang's request, to return to China.
TheJapanese invaders in China had dubbed Donald "the evil spirit of China" for his role in advising the Chinese government in their efforts against the invasion. They had offered growingrewards for his capture, dead or alive. Once they had almost got him, whenZero fighters attacked his plane over China—but his pilot escaped into a cloud bank. In February 1945, it turned out that they had held him for more than three years, without knowing it was him, in one of theManilaprison camps. Donald had been a prisoner since February 1942, when the Japanese arrested him at Manila when he was on his way back to China fromNew Zealand via thePhilippines. During his captivity, he had used a false name.[10]
After a brief visit toNew York City in 1945, Donald returned toShanghai, where he died in 1946. He was farewelled in astate funeral by the government of theRepublic of China. As he lay dying in 1946, Donald dictated his recollections toEarl Albert Selle, who produced a biography calledDonald of China.[11]
A collection of his correspondence between 1942 and 1946 is held byColumbia University Library.
Donald Place, in the Canberra suburb ofGilmore, is named in his honour.[12]
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