501.BB/9–849: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
1072. For Sandifer1 from Ross. At Gerig’s2 reception last night I had chance fairly long conversation Victor Hoo concerning possibility China item may be proposed for GA agenda. Department will recall Trygve Lie told us week ago that Tsiang had consulted Hoo about this.
I initiated conversation by asking Hoo if he thought there was any chance question of China might come up in any way in GA. Hoo replied he understood Chinese Government was considering matter but had not yet reached decision (he may not be altogether up-to-date). He said one thing was clear, if Chinese Government raises question, will raise it in Assembly and not in SC.
Hoo did not directly say that Tsiang had asked his advice. He implied this strongly, however, by discourse on his extraordinary position [Page 176] as Chinese National ASyG. Chinese Government had never attempted exert any pressure on him. They had, however, freely asked his advice on number of matters. He was in peculiar position; having been career diplomat all his life and his father a diplomat before him he had never in any way been involved in Chinese internal politics. Hoo also indicated pretty strongly he is persona grata with Communists, saying that in early twenties when he was Chinese Charge in Berlin he had got Mao’s3 Number Two man out of jail where he had been committed for attending some Communist meeting as a young Chinese student in Berlin.
Hoo said he commented to Tsiang re putting item on agenda that “it depends on what you want to get, and can you get it?” I said I thought same questions would occur to me and observed I did not think it would do Nationalist Government any good if they failed to get GA backing for whatever they might decide to go after.
Hoo said he thought Chinese interest in putting item on agenda is “reaction to White Paper.” He implied this had torpedoed Nationalist Government. He guessed they felt that if they were “going down” they would like to take us and maybe some others along with them. In same context Hoo talked about drowning man grasping at any straw and last act Nationalist Government could take to preserve its dignity and prestige; in other words, if they were going down they would go down with colors flying and putting blame where it belongs.
Hoo inquired about Jessup and I said I thought it not unlikely Jessup would be on our GADel. Hoo said he thought it would be very good idea for Jessup to talk to Hu Shih4 who he said is still in New York. (In course conversation Hoo stressed role of “intellectuals”.) Hoo said he thought it would also be good idea for Jessup to talk with a Chinese editor or publisher here in New York who, I gathered from Hoo’s remarks, publishes a Communist Chinese paper here and is very influential. [Ross.]