893.00/15238
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 21, 1944.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch no. 1827 of November 17, 1943, in regard to Kuomintang-Communist relations, I have the honor to enclose a copy of despatch no. 23 of November 23, 1943, from the Secretary on detail at Lanchow15 in regard to this subject.
Summary. Mr. Rice states that according to foreign residents of northeast Kansu and Ninghsia additional clashes have occured recently between Central Government and Communist forces, the latter being charged with attempts to expand the territory under their control. A local source with Communist contacts and sympathies believes that the Ninghsia forces are attempting to establish direct contact with the troops under General Teng Pao-shan at Yulin, north Shensi, which are at present dependent upon the Communist area for supplies. Most of the troops in west Kansu are now concentrated near the eastern end of the Kansu corridor and fortifications are reportedly being constructed in that area to guard against a possible Communist attempt to enter the corridor. Exactions of Chungking troops on the people are blamed by their commanders on the Communists and the people are allegedly told that such conditions will continue until the Communists are eliminated. End of Summary.
There has apparently been no marked change in the situation affecting Kuomintang-Communist relations. In line with the statement by Communist representatives at Chungking that the propaganda campaign of the two parties had by common agreement been abandoned (Embassy’s despatch under reference), the Embassy has not during the past month received any of the publicity material formerly issued by the local Communists. The sole reference to the Communist question [Page 397] by the Chungking authorities was that made by the Kuomintang Minister of Information on December 15 at a press conference when he stated that he had nothing to add to his previous statement on the Communist problem (Embassy’s telegram no. 1995, October 21). The Minister described as an “enthusiastic welcome” the reception given to General Teng Pao-shan at Yenan when he passed through the Communist capital recently en route from Chungking to Yulin. He further stated that General Teng “conveyed to the Communist Party and its leaders the benevolent intentions of the National Government” as contained in President Chiang Kai-shek’s statement on the Communist problem at the time of the C.E.C. session in September (Embassy’s despatch no. 1675, October 14) and cautioned them against being oversensitive. As has been the case with other statements on the Communist question issued by the Kuomintang Ministry of Information (Embassy’s despatch under reference), this account of General Teng’s journey through Yenan was published only in the English language press at Chungking and did not appear in the Chinese newspapers. Such items are apparently intended for foreign rather than for Chinese consumption and are believed to be part of a quiet campaign on the part of the Kuomintang to build up a picture of Kuomintang conciliation and forbearance in regard to the Communist problem.
One of the Communist representatives recently implied that the Communist Party had now reached the point where it would make no further effort at present to cooperate with the Kuomintang, convinced as it was that the latter party had no intention of making any real effort to solve the questions between them peacefully and feeling that it was now strong enough to stand its ground against possible present Chungking attacks. The close surveillance of the Chinese Communists at Chungking by the secret police continues and this attention to Communist activities apparently includes a careful watch over various other Chinese suspected either of having Communist sympathies or of being critical of the Kuomintang.
Respectfully yours,
- Enclosure not printed.↩