893.00/15270: Telegram
The Under Secretary of State (Stettinius) to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
238. 1. Department is concerned over the steady deterioration of Kuomintang–Communist relations as revealed by Embassy’s comprehensive and timely reports on the subject.
2. Department is therefore giving serious consideration to the advisability of urging the Generalissimo to agree to the dispatch of a small group of American military and other observers to Communist controlled territory. We understand that the War Department is also giving consideration to this matter. It is felt that among other [Page 337] reasons such a move is desirable from the point of view of our present and future military operations in China. While it would probably be advisable that the mission be of a military character it would seem desirable that it include one or more Foreign Service officers trained as political observers.
3. Department would appreciate receiving an expression of the Embassy’s views in regard to the suggested action set forth in paragraph 2.