893.00/15207
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch no. 1832 of November 18, 1943,98 in regard to the recently launched Chinese national cultural movement, I have the honor to enclose a copy of a memorandum dated November 19, 1943,98 prepared by Dr. J. K. Fairbank, IDC99 representative at Chungking, entitled “The Intellectual Leadership of the Minister of Education”.
Summary. The student movement and the intellectual enthusiasm which existed during the early days of the Sino-Japanese conflict have not only deteriorated but have been actively suppressed. This suppression has apparently arisen from the Kuomintang’s desire to ensure a continuation of its power; and intellectual stultification has been promoted largely by Chen Li-f u, the Minister of Education and a leader of the reactionary CC clique. Kuomintang leaders clearly hold pernicious and antiquated views in regard to the process of intellectual adjustment to the modern world which China must sooner or later make. Examples of these views are shown in writings of Chen Li-fu which call for the revival of Confucianism as the only means [Page 385] by which the Chinese race can be revived and state that world peace can be achieved only by the reformation of thought through ancient Chinese culture. Other instances of such views are contained in an editorial in the National Herald in which it is stated that the Chinese have developed a basic outlook on life which is a truer one than the pseudo-scientific outlooks which have plagued the western world. Dr. Fairbank observes that these ideas and evaluations are both a source of and a vehicle for atavism, chauvinism and xenophobia and that it is in the American interest that the Department’s cultural relations program lend all legitimate support to the truth as opposed to these ideas. End of summary.
Respectfully yours,