893.00/8–2644
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
No. 2908
Chungking, August 26,
1944.
[Received September 7.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a
report (No. 2) dated July 28, 1944, from Second Secretary John S. Service
now with the
[Page 521]
U. S. Army Observer
Section at Yenan, Shensi (seat of the Chinese Communist regime), to the
Commanding General, Forward Echelon, USAFCBI, on the subject “Desire of
Chairman of Communist Central Committee for Continued American
Representation of Diplomatic Character at Yenan.”* Enclosed with this
report is a copy of a memorandum of a conversation by Mr. Service with Mr.
Mao Tse-tung, Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Chinese
Communist Party.
It will be observed from Mr. Service’s report and its accompanying enclosure
that Mr. Mao Tse-tung sounded him out informally on the possibility of the
establishment of an American consular office at Yenan, suggesting that
withdrawal of American military personnel from Yenan immediately on
termination of the war against Japan would be “just the time of greatest
danger of a Kuomintang attack and civil war.” Mr. Service interpreted Mr.
Mao’s remarks as inferring that the stationing of American official
observers in the Chinese Communist-controlled areas would be an important
factor in preventing armed Kuomintang–Communist conflict.
While the stationing of an American diplomatic or consular officer at Yenan
would have obvious informational advantages to us and the officer’s presence
there might well have to some extent the beneficial effect envisaged by Mr.
Mao, the Embassy believes that there is no likelihood at this time that the
National Government would be agreeable to even the temporary detail of an
officer of the Embassy to Yenan on the same basis as it has agreed to the
detail of our officers to Chengtu, Lanchow and Sian. However, while the
prospects for an early amicable settlement of the Kuomintang–Communist
difficulties are far from bright, the situation may alter in the next few
months in such a way that if the Observer Section concludes its duties
consideration might be given to the possibility that Mr. Service might be
left there without overriding objection by the National Government and
perhaps subsequently replaced by another officer. Whether this would be
desirable from the point of view of the American Government would, of
course, depend upon pertinent circumstances at that time and there would not
seem to be any need for active consideration of the matter now.
Respectfully yours,
[Page 522]
[Enclosure]
Report by the Second Secretary of Embassy in
China (Service)
No. 2
[Yenan,] July 28, 1944.
Subject: Desire of Chairman of Communist Central
Committee for Continued American Representation of Diplomatic Character
at Yenan.
To: Commanding General, Fwd. Ech. USAF–CBI, APO 879.
- 1.
- There is enclosed a memorandum of a conversation with Mao
Tse-tung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist
Party, on the evening of July 26, 1944.
- 2.
- Chairman Mao expressed the hope that a representative of the State
Department might be regularly stationed at Yenan, even after the
possible withdrawal of American military observers. He stated that
the reason for this hope is that the time of greatest danger of a
Kuomintang attack on the Communists will be soon after the cessation
of hostilities against Japan.
- 3.
- In expressing this hope Chairman Mao inferentially agrees with the
statements of Communist representatives in Chungking that they
believe that American observers in the Communist areas will prove an
important factor in preventing an open conflict between the
Kuomintang and Communist parties.
- 4.
- It is requested that the attached copies of this report be
transmitted to the American Ambassador at Chungking and to
Headquarters USAF–CBI New Delhi for the information of Mr.
Davies.
Approved for transmission:
D. D. Barrett, Colonel, G. S. C.
[Subenclosure]
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Second Secretary of
Embassy in China (Service)
During the welcome dinner given last evening to our Observer Group I was
seated beside Chairman Mao Tse-tung. Neither before nor after dinner was
there opportunity for private conversation but during the meal the
Chairman made a number of personal remarks to me.
He repeated earlier general remarks of pleasure at our arrival. Very
kindly he added an indication of pleasure at my inclusion in the
Observer Section, saying that he had heard of my interest in Chinese
politics from General Chou En-lai and Mr. Tung Pi-wu and knew that I had
been a friend of the Communist Delegation in Chungking.
[Page 523]
He said that he understood that I was an adviser on the staff of General
Stilwell but that I still retained some connection with the Embassy. I
confirmed this and added that for reasons which he could understand I
was here nominally in my military capacity only, although any reports I
might write on political subjects would be seen by the Ambassador.
He asked whether I would remain here permanently. I replied that being
attached to a group which was here primarily for study and
investigation, I could make no definite reply as to the length of my
stay but that it was our hope that it would be found worth-while for
representatives of our Headquarters to be stationed in Yenan and that
such representatives would probably include civilian advisers.
He asked whether there was a possibility of the State Department setting
up a Consulate at Yenan. I suggested that there were a number of
practical difficulties—the first being the small number of Americans in
the area. He agreed, but said that he had raised the question because an
American military group would withdraw from Yenan immediately after the
cessation of hostilities against Japan which was just the time of
greatest danger of a Kuomintang attack and civil war.
He said that he understood that Vice President Wallace had secured the
Generalissimo’s approval for the despatch of our group and asked whether
there had been other previous attempts to get such permission. I
suggested that there were a number of topics which I would like to
discuss with him at his leisure, though none of them would be called
official business. He gave a good natured laugh and said that after I
had gotten settled down we would have a good chance to “exchange
ideas.”
I then asked about the progress of the Kuomintang–Communist talks in
Chungking. He said that there was no progress and that the Kuomintang
now would not let Lin Tsu-han return.
