FE Files, Lot 52–354
Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State
The simple facts are that on March 7, 1941,40 there was held between the Chinese Ambassador, Dr. Hu Shih, and the then Chief of the Chinese Purchasing Mission, Dr. T. V. Soong, and Messrs. Hornbeck and Hamilton of the Department of State a general discussion of the general political situation in the Far East. In the course of this conversation Dr. Hu and Dr. Soong gave an extended account of the relations between the Central Government of China and the Chinese “Communists”, with indication that neither of them felt that this situation was especially serious. Mr. Hornbeck offered comment that the effects of the continuing dissension between the “Communists” and the Chinese Government were more important than the causes; and Mr. Hamilton made comment that the United States was of course solicitously interested in the question of China’s unity and stability. Mr. Hornbeck’s and Mr. Hamilton’s comments were based upon and were in line with an antecedently prepared memorandum of March 6, [Page 244] 1941,41 in which the one and only reference to the question of conflict between Chinese parties or groups read as follows:
“We have also been concerned over reports of dissension between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist forces. Chinese unity has, as the Ambassador and Mr. Soong are aware, comprised one of the principal factors in our policy toward China for many years and this Government’s interest in the progressive maintenance of Chinese unity continues. Indeed, the importance of the maintenance of Chinese unity cannot be overestimated at the present serious juncture in world affairs.”
Neither in this conversation nor in any other have any officers of the Department of State concerned with Far Eastern affairs given the Chinese any advice in any way in line with that which is suggested in Mr. Browder’s42 intended statement43 under consideration. On the contrary, this Department has always deprecated civil strife in China and over a period of many years, including recent years, has exerted its influence toward the discouraging of any such strife. Any allegation that the United States Government would be displeased or has said that it would be displeased if “unity was established in China” is the exact opposite of the truth. The American Government has at no time entertained a policy of “war against the Communist” in China. In fact, this Government has repeatedly expressed skepticism regarding alarmist accounts of the serious menace of “Communism” in China. The affirmation that officials of the Department “tell Chungking it must continue to fight the Communists if it wishes United States friendship” is an absolute and complete lie. The attribution to the Department of State of “responsibility for withdrawing a million Chinese troops from the war against Japan” and keeping China “back from full unity in this war” is a deliberate distortion of truth: the Department of State has encouraged the cause of unity in China; the Department has at no time made any suggestions to the Chinese regarding the distribution of their armed forces; and the Chinese themselves, notwithstanding attempts by irresponsible outside parties to keep alive and intensify points of disagreement between the Chinese Government and the Chinese “Communists”, are unified in military operations in resistance to Japan.
- See memorandum of March 7, 1941, Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. v, p. 610 ↩
- See memorandum by Mr. George Atcheson, Jr., February 13, 1941, revised March 6, Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. v, p. 608.↩
- Earl Browder, General Secretary, Communist Party of U. S. A.↩
- For statement, see the New York Worker, October 4, 1942, front page, under banner heading: “Browder accuses State Dep’t clique”. Mr. Browder charged that reactionary officials in the Department were encouraging Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to keep his best armies out of the war with Japan with a view to liquidating Chinese Communist armies. No copy of “intended statement” found in Department files.↩