740.00119 P. W./8–1245: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—9:30 a.m.]
1336. This order is in open defiance of the National Government of China (re Embassy’s telegram 1335, August 12) and is in conflict with the Potsdam Declaration which designates the Governments to which surrender is to be made. We are aware that the United States Government policy in China is opposed to lending any assistance to the National Government in a fratricidal war. The question is, will the United States Government and the United Nations take action toward preventing a fratricidal war in China? (See my telegram No. 1330 of August 11, 4 p.m.39)
Soviet’s attitude towards support of National Government and unification of armed forces of China well known to Secretary to be favorable, but final terms are still pending in negotiations in Moscow. (A public statement of support by Soviet Government of National Government of China at this juncture could, of course, be most helpful.)
If the United States and the United Nations permit an armed belligerent political party in China to accept surrender of the Japanese and to acquire Japanese arms, a fratricidal war in China will thereby be made certain. I have already suggested that in the terms of surrender Japan be required to surrender all Japanese arms in China including Japanese arms that are in the hands of Japanese soldiers, Chinese puppet troops supporting Japan, and Chinese partisan organizations operating with Japan, to the National Government of China. We have also recommended that the terms of surrender should penalize Japan for any attempt to arm any belligerent forces within China against the National Government.40
[Page 516]For the information of the Department, the Generalissimo41 is preparing a declaration which will be promulgated as soon as surrender is consummated. This proclamation will assure the Communist armed party that no attack will be made upon it by the troops of the National Government, and no reprisals of any nature conducted against it provided that its troops will surrender their arms. The National Government will further pledge itself to grant immediately a recognition of the Communists as a political party and to give that party and all other political parties in China a legal status. The purpose of the National Government is to unify China and to unify the armed forces of China under the National Government.
General Wedemeyer42 has shown me his report to the Chief of Staff43 setting out his opinion of the situation that will prevail if the Japanese are allowed to surrender their arms to the Communist armed party. I concur in General Wedemeyer’s report and recommend that the State Department urge that the surrender terms provide that none of the Japanese arms will be surrendered to the Chinese Communist armed party.