893.00/10–944
Report by the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Service)78
No. 29
[Yenan,] September 18, 1944.
Subject: Decision of the Chinese Communists to Use Chinese Name in Foreign Publicity.
To: Commanding General, Fwd. Ech. USAF–CBI, APO 879.
- 1.
- Reference has been made in earlier reports to the consideration being given by the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party to the possible unfavorable impression created abroad by their presently misleading party name.
- 2.
- I have recently been informed that the authorities in charge of foreign publicity have decided to discontinue the translation of the name—Chinese Communist Party—and to use only the Chinese name itself—Kungchantang. They point out that this will be similar to the practice of the Kuomintang, to which name foreigners have become so accustomed that that party is never referred to abroad by its translation—National Peoples Party. It will be noted that in the English broadcasts and in other material in English now emanating from Yenan the name Kungchantang is now being used.
- 3.
- It seems questionable whether the Communists can be successful in popularizing this Chinese name when the term Communist Party has become so well known abroad, has so much more meaning to the average foreigner, and is so much easier for most foreigners to remember. [Page 577] The decision to make the attempt is at least interesting as an indication of Communist desire to allay any foreign fears and to win foreign good-will. It would not be surprising if the Communists go further and actually change the official name of their party.
- 4.
- It is requested that copies of this report be transmitted to the American Ambassador at Chungking and Headquarters, USAF–CBI, for the information of Mr. Davies.
John S. Service
Approved for Transmission:
David D. Barrett, Colonel, G. S. C.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in China in his covering despatch No. 3043, October 9; received October 20.↩