893.00/15286
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 6.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s telegram no. 258, February 8, 3 p.m., in regard to Kuomintang–Communist relations, I have the honor to enclose a copy of a memorandum of February 6, 1944, prepared by Second Secretary John S. Service,69 on detail to General Stilwell’s staff, regarding the possibility of negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party.
Summary. President Chiang Kai-shek summoned Mr. Tung Pi-wu, the chief Communist representative at Chungking, on January 31 and told him that word had been received of the Communists’ desire to send representatives to Chungking to negotiate for a settlement of Kuomintang–Communist difficulties; that the Central Government would welcome such delegates; and that he desired to know their names and the date of their arrival. Mr. Tung had no knowledge of the matter but drafted a telegram of inquiry to Yenan which was sent for him through official Chinese channels (Communist radio contact with Yenan apparently has ceased since the closure of the 18th Group Army radio here). The reply received on February 5 from the Communist authorities at Yenan indicated that tentative discussions had been going on at Yenan with a Chungking liaison officer stationed there and that a suggestion had been made (it was not clear who made the suggestion) that Communist representatives be sent to Chungking to continue such negotiations. Mao Tse-tung was said to be willing to accept the suggestion if the Central Government desired the sending of delegates and the Generalissimo’s statement to Mr. Tung was considered as an indication of this desire. Mr. Lin Pai-hsu, Chairman of the Yenan Border Government, was expected to depart for Chungking in late April or early May and General Chou En-lai might proceed later if the initial negotiations promised to be successful. The Communists do not appear to be hopeful of any real compromise but the Central Government’s willingness to discuss the problem indicates to them that the former is not yet ready to precipitate a conflict. End of Summary.
A reliable source close to the Chinese Communists has informed an officer of the Embassy that, according to a telegram from Yenan received by the local Communist representatives, the following decisions [Page 347] were reached during a recent conference at Yenan in which Mao Tse-tung participated: (1) the Communist Party will support the Generalissimo in the war against Japan; (2) the Communist Party will support the Generalissimo in setting up a democratic state; and (3) the Communist Party will send two delegates to negotiate with the Kuomintang—Lin Pai-hsu to proceed first and, if a basis for discussion is reached, General Chou En-lai to follow with full powers to carry on the negotiations. (The telegram mentioned by this informant is probably the same as that referred to in Mr. Service’s memorandum.)
Although there seems to be little hope for a peaceful settlement of the fundamental differences between the two parties in view of the apparent reluctance of either side to make any substantial concessions, it is at least encouraging from a standpoint of the present tense relations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party that both parties are willing to enter into negotiations for a settlement. Although strict censorship at Chungking has prevented foreign newspaper correspondents from reporting fully on recent developments in this regard, several of these correspondents have filed stories on this subject in recent weeks and have closely and persistently questioned the Government spokesmen at the weekly press conferences in regard to the Communist problem, thereby making it clear to the Government that the foreign correspondents are not unaware of the possibilities of the situation. (This subject is being reported in a separate despatch.70)
Respectfully yours,