Office of the Historian

Hopkins Papers

United States Delegation Memorandum1

Cairo, November 23, 1943.

Comments on Reports That the Generalissimo is Deeply Concerned Over the Soviet Government’s Attitude Toward His Regime and Its Intention To Support the Chinese Communists

In Moscow there are definite indications that the Soviet Government:

1.
In the post war period wants peace within China and a strong central government,
2.
Recognizes that this objective can be obtained only through the Generalissimo,
3.
Will insist on a more liberal policy based on democratic principles and improvement in social conditions,
4.
Desires some solution of the Chinese communist problem either by the Generalissimo’s acceptance of them as an independent political2 party or by bringing them into the Government in some manner,
5.
Does not have ambitions in respect to Chinese territory in general. This view is supported by their recent withdrawal from the Province of Sinkiang. The recognition of Outer Mongolia’s independence was for military protection against the Japanese advance. There is no indication yet as to the Soviet Government’s attitude regarding the question of a warm water port, although it would be consistent for them to agree to the independence of Korea under some type of trusteeship in which the four great powers would participate.

The Chinese Ambassador in Moscow3 has expressed opinions along these lines.4

  1. The author of this memorandum was presumably Hopkins. Harriman indicated to the editors in 1956 that Hopkins had handed the paper to him to read; that he had added the sentence at the end; and that he had returned it to Hopkins (023.1/5–256).↩
  2. The word “political” is a handwritten interlinear addition.↩
  3. Foo Ping-sheung.↩
  4. The final sentence was added in handwriting by Harriman.↩