740.0011 Pacific War/3376: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 11—12:54 p.m.]
1429. Embassy’s 1325, July 28, 6 p.m. That [The] New York Times correspondent has been informed by an authoritative source that Government “had decided” not to use force to resolve Kuomintang-Communist difficulties. Both the New York Times and the UP correspondents have been informed by Ministry of Information that they may report that Government definitely will not use force against Communists.
I am informed by one of the highest officials of the Government that some tension in the situation still exists but that Government will not resort to force and that in his opinion the difficulties will be resolved, if not during war, at least very shortly after peace comes, by political means. He spoke with obvious assurance in regard to Government’s intention not to resort to force.