893.00/15322: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:50 p.m.]
560. We have been informed by authoritative source that Information Ministry is preparing several statements strongly attacking Chinese Communists. One statement said to be intended for release at press conference and others to include directive from Generalissimo to CEC5a and report by Kuomintang Secretariat to CEC.
Statements make following charges against Communists:
Attacks on Chungking troops, sometimes in cooperation with Japs; plans for seizure of power in all or part of China; murder of Government and Party leaders and others opposing them; cultivation of opium and encouragement of its use; distribution of own bank notes and imposition of burdensome taxes; seizure by force of Chinese territory and mistreatment of people; instigation of revolts among Government [Page 391] troops; and issuance of false propaganda attacking Central Government and Generalissimo. Despite bitter tone of statements, most of them said to contain assertion Central Government is determined to settle Communist question by political means and there will be no civil war. Informant states no reference in documents to Soviet Russia, although Chinese officials inform him Chinese Communists give complete loyalty to Soviets.
It is believed that these statements may be based in part on the documents exposing Communist crimes forwarded in despatch 2171, February 16, and that they may be intended for release at time of foreign correspondents’ trip to Yenan.
- Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang.↩