893.00/7–1044: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
983. As indicated in following digest, press correspondents who traveled to Yenan were evidently allowed considerable latitude in their despatches and articles relating to their trip. (Embassy’s telegram 1189, July 10)
The correspondents in despatches to New York Times, New York Herald-Tribune and Christian Science Monitor, praised Communists’ industrial and agricultural achievements, and applauded fighting spirit and military achievements of Communist troops. New York Times’ correspondent on July 1 reported finding in Yenan “hatred of Japanese and determination to defend their achievements against all interference”. Same correspondent stressed finding realization of nearness of counteroffensive against Japan, in which Communist armies and guerrillas want to participate to fullest. He reported seeing how formerly barren country has been transformed into area of intensive cultivation, stock breeding, and handicraft industry. Harrison Forman in Herald-Tribune on June 23 described Yenan as “magnificent symbol of tenacity and determination of people of this border region of China.” He described how this border area, forced by circumstances to become wholly self-reliant since it was cut off from outside world 3 years ago, “encourages any and every industry, small or [Page 480] large, even subsidizing some which admittedly would be unprofitable if products they yield could be imported.” Guenther Stein in Christian Science Monitor on June 27 declared that any Allied commander “would be proud to command those tough, well-fed, hardened troops whose exercises show both high skill and spirit.”
Harrison Forman in June 23 Herald-Tribune describes refreshing, informal atmosphere of place, declaring: “No one bothers about ceremony, styles of clothing or time. Everything is open and above board, with absolutely no control or restrictions on movements, discussions, interviews, visits or photographs, while every one, from highest government official to lowliest peasant worker, sincerely asks for criticism and advice for betterment of himself and of working conditions.”
Harrison Forman reported in July 1 Herald-Tribune that Mao Tsetung stated Communists’ attitude on Kuomintang–Communist relations as follows: “To support Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, to persist in Kuomintang cooperation as well as cooperation with whole people of China, to struggle for overthrow of Japanese imperialism and to build an independent and democratic China.” Guenther Stein quoted Wang Cheng in June 27 Monitor as asserting that everyone hopes for achievement of full understanding with Kuomintang, “for we have never ceased to recognize Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as leader.” Communist spokesman, Chou En-lai, according to Harrison Forman in July 9 Herald-Tribune, declared that “there is still considerable distance between national government’s proposal and our suggestions.” Forman in same story says Yenan hopes that Chungking will send representatives to Yenan for closer examination of situation and to enter into more comprehensive discussion.
Correspondents reported from Sian that that city had had 3 months’ notice of their visit, and was “on its toes.” Guenther Stein in June 1 Monitor related that beggars and dogs had been cleared out, and “the usually clean city was cleaner than ever.” New York Times correspondent in June 3 despatch said Sian “looks and feels like a political and military fortress.” He reported that “one’s actions are not one’s private business. Everything is traced, checked and counter-checked.” He said he felt like “a piece on a chess board, with his movements circumscribed by fixed rules.”
General Hu Chung-nan’s chief of staff, General Lo Tse-kai, flatly told reporters, according to June 3 despatch to New York Times, that Eighth Route Army had never fought Japanese since war began, that they had done nothing except impede attack of Central Government troops, that all guerrillas in Shansi, Hopeh, Shantung belonged to Kuomintang, and that if Chungking talks achieved any settlement. [Page 481] “we don’t hope that they will help us fight the Japanese because this is too much to expect. We only hope they will not interfere with us.”
New York Times correspondent reported on June 2 that General Hu himself declined to answer a question about possible Government–Communist understanding, after representative of Chungking Ministry of Information, who was accompanying party, broke in to say that this question had already been answered by General Lo.
Harrison Forman in June 4 despatch to Herald-Tribune described Kenanpo and unoccupied Shansi provincial areas still under Marshal Yen Hsi-shan’s control as even more Communist than Communist districts adjacent, with which relations are strained, and there is little or no contact.
Copies of the available despatches and articles are being air mailed to you.