740.0011 Pacific War/3406
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
Sir: The Department has received the Embassy’s despatch no. 1430 of August 4, 1943 and considers the despatch an excellent piece of reporting on the part of Mr. Sprouse, Third Secretary of the Embassy. The information contained in the despatch and its enclosures60 and Mr. Sprouse’s interpretative comment constitute a very useful contribution toward the Department’s understanding of recent developments in relations between the Chinese (Kuomintang) Government and the Chinese Communists.
The Department is confident that the Embassy will continue to follow closely and discreetly developments between the Kuomintang and the Communists. Special note is taken of the suggestion in the despatch prepared by Mr. Sprouse regarding the possibility that “Central Government control over the areas now under its authority” might “become so weakened through local dissension as to make any such areas susceptible to Communist propaganda …” The Embassy [Page 351] will of course report available information in this regard and information in general with regard to any spread of Communist or other dissident influences.
Very truly yours,
- Enclosures not printed.↩