893.00/15331
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 6.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch No. 2170 of February 16, 1944, reporting observations by two British residents of Communist-controlled areas in north China in regard to conditions in that region, I have the honor to enclose a copy of an undated report,99 marked “anonymous and secret”, prepared by the above-described persons containing information regarding activities of the Chinese Communist Party in those areas.…
Summary. The Communist base in the Yenan area (north Shensi) is described as the rear supply base of the 8th Route Army (Communist), which, together with the base in Western Hopei, is the chief Communist-controlled area in north China. All sections of the population give enthusiastic support to the war because of the self-government and political programs of the Border Governments. The organization [Page 382] of the people for total war is based upon mass associations, those for youth, labor, peasants and women. The democratic machinery of the Border Regions is said to operate throughout the entire area, even filtering into Japanese-occupied cities.
The 8th Route Army is organized along democratic lines. There is resultant inefficiency, but a sense of personal responsibility, the maintenance of the people’s morale and cooperation with the peasant population have been achieved thereby. Without that morale and cooperation the movement could not exist. The chief purpose of the Communists has been to prevent exploitation of interior China and to maintain strongholds from which the main railways and cities can be retaken in the final stages of the war. Japanese construction of an ever-tightening ring of blockhouses in central Hopei plain has forced out regular Communist units and attempted repetition of these tactics west of Ping-Han Railway caused increased Communist regular and guerrilla activity in 1943. Serious lack of medicines, especially quinine, and X-ray equipment has greatly handicapped health services.
The Central Government blockade of the Communist areas and the underpopulation have offered handicaps, but a forced program for self-sufficiency has resulted in an increased area under cultivation, increased industrial production and the accumulation of reserve foodstuffs for use in the event of famine.
The various leaders of the Chinese Communists are described and it is said that the loyalty of the troops and lack of desertions arises from the choice of leaders on basis of ability without regard to influence or tradition.
Until the time of the threat of civil war in July 1943, all propaganda had been directed toward the united front against Japan, but from that time until the end of 1943 there was a bitter anti-Kuomintang campaign. The Communists displayed strong confidence in their ability to defeat the Kuomintang if the latter should precipitate a civil war and a belligerent spirit seemed to exist in the Communist rather than in the Kuomintang areas. All able-bodied men were being given military training, begun as preparation for defense in August 1943 and continued as preparation for the counter-offensive against Japan.
The Communists have built up powerful people’s organizations in their areas and give evidence of a very real possibility of strength and self-reliance in China. They have complete confidence in their own ability, based solidly on the masses, to win China to democracy and freedom. End of Summary.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩