893.00/15084
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 17.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a memorandum13 furnished the Embassy by the Foreign Office, giving the substance of recent information received from the British Embassy in Chungking concerning relations between the Chinese Central Government and the Communist forces in the north.
According to this report, there have recently been rumors that the Chinese Government was concentrating a large force of possibly seven divisions near the Communist area, ostensibly to meet the Japanese threat from southern Shansi. While it is believed that such movements have actually taken place, their purpose is open to doubt. The British Ambassador in Chungking has been informed by a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that, following the dissolution of the Comintern, there had been a split in the ranks of the Chinese Communists, the moderates favoring increased cooperation with, or even incorporation in, the Nationalist Government and the extremists insisting on remaining independent. The Generalissimo had apparently sent proposals to Yenan, the Communist headquarters, [Page 297] which amounted to the dissolution of the Communist Government, incorporation of the Communist armies in the National Forces and the recognition of Communism as an opposition political party.
It has been suggested in Chungking by the British Military Attaché, according to the Foreign Office, that the real reason for the troop movements may have been to support the Central Government in their negotiations with the Communists and fears have been expressed that an attack might be made on the Communists. The Foreign Office has stated that it does not have any other information to corroborate this interpretation and is merely passing it along for what it may be worth. However, unconfirmed information from another source in London is to the effect that two divisions of Communist troops in the north have recently attacked the Central Government forces.
Respectfully yours,
First Secretary of Embassy
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