893.00/14969
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck)12
We should, I think, maintain an attitude of intelligent skepticism with regard to reports emphasizing the strength of the “Communist” forces in China and expressing apprehensiveness that civil war in China may be imminent. We should, of course, follow these leads with close attention—but with caution. The suggestion mentioned as coming from a Chinese source that we might see to it that a part of such arms as we ship to China go to the “Communists” is one which, were we to listen to it, would launch us on a course of playing both sides in a foreign country, which we never have followed, which I trust we never will follow, and which, if followed, would be both vicious and stupid. (The Japanese have followed such courses.) It will be interesting to see what Mr. Gauss reports.