761.93/10–444
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
No. 3034
Chungking, October 4,
1944.
[Received October 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a memorandum
setting forth certain views expounded by Dr. Sun Fo, President of the
Legislative
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Yuan, in the course of
a recent off-the-record conversation, in regard to Sino-Soviet
relations.
It appears to be Dr. Sun’s view that settlement of the Kuomintang-Communist
problem and the attainment of internal Chinese harmony are prerequisites to
the fundamental betterment of Sino-Soviet relations; that the Generalissimo
has no proper appreciation of the reality of these factors and clings to his
original attitude and policy toward the Chinese Communists; and that so long
as the Generalissimo adheres to such views in regard to the Chinese
Communists and national unity little appreciable progress can be made in
bettering Sino-Soviet relations.
There are indications that an effort is being made in certain directions to
improve Sino-Russian relations: Sheng Shih-tsai has been recalled from
Sinkiang and the Sinkiang provincial government reorganized; in his address
to the People’s Political Council on September 16, 1944 the Generalissimo
stressed the need of closer relations with the Soviet Union, saying that
certain “obstacles” thereto had been removed; the People’s Political Council
subsequently passed a resolution urging the strengthening of Sino-Soviet
relations and the desirability of the despatch of a Chinese good-will
mission to the Soviet Union; and a number of articles recently appeared in
the Chinese press calling for the betterment of the ties between the two
nations.
According to press reports from Moscow, Nicolai M. Lifanov, Chief of the
First Far Eastern Department (Chinese affairs) of the Soviet Foreign Office,
is soon to proceed to China for a visit of several months. The nature of Mr.
Lifanov’s mission was not stated, although it may indicate that the Soviets,
for their part, are willing to take steps looking to the improvement of
Chinese-Soviet relations.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Second Secretary of
Embassy in China (Drumright)
Chungking, October 2,
1944.
In the course of an informal conversation last evening with the
Ambassador (at which Dr. Quo Tai-chi, former Foreign Minister and the
undersigned were present), Dr. Sun Fo, President of the Legislative
Yuan, spoke off-the-record on the question of Sino-Soviet relations, the
gist of which was as follows:
The Soviet Union has granted no material support to the Chinese
Communists with the exception of a few small shipments of medicines. The
Russians have supplied the Chinese Communists with no arms,
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even though in 1938, when
Russia was supplying the National Government with military equipment,
Wang Ming, the Chinese Communist representative to the Third
International, had requested that the Soviet Union furnish the Chinese
Communists with military equipment and supplies. At that time Marshal
Voroshilov had let it be known that it would be improper for Russia to
supply the Chinese Communists with arms without the sanction of the
Chinese National Government. Such an attitude on the part of the Soviet
Union was correct.
Russia is not supporting the Chinese Communists and probably does not
wish to see the formation of a Communist Government in China at this
time. What Russia desires is a friendly Chinese Government and a
peaceful China.
The reorganization of the Sinkiang Provincial Government (the recall to
Chungking of General Sheng Shih-tsai) will probably result in a
diminution of friction in that area, but it will not bring about a
fundamental rapprochement between China and
Russia. Settlement of the Kuomintang-Communist question and internal
harmony in China would be more likely to contribute to the resumption of
friendly ties between the two countries.
A few days ago at a Government meeting the Generalissimo had quoted Mr.
Nelson and General Hurley as saying that when they discussed the
question of the Chinese Communists with Mr. Molotov20 in
Moscow the latter had stated that the Chinese Communists were not
“Communists” but agrarian reformers and that the Soviet Union took no
particular interest in them. The Generalissimo had unfortunately
interpreted this statement of the attitude of Soviet Russia to mean that
Soviet Russia has no interest in the Chinese Communists and the National
Government may therefore deal with them as it pleases, and it seemed
that because of this misinterpretation he might be inspired to take a
stronger attitude toward the Chinese Communists than would otherwise be
the case. In reality, it is extremely important that
Kuomintang-Communist relations be adjusted if friendly relations with
Russia are to materialize. He (Dr. Sun) had urged this point of view
upon the Generalissimo at several interviews and the former had seemed
to agree, but subsequently did little or nothing to bring about improved
relations.
Upon the termination of the war in Europe the Soviet Union is likely to
enter the war in the Far East, invading Manchuria and Korea and perhaps
north China. The Russians will then wish to arm the Chinese forces
operating in those areas. Those forces are likely to be Chinese
Communists. Such a development would be disastrous to the Kuomintang. It
is absolutely essential to come to an agreement with the
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Chinese Communists before such a
development occurs so that the forces going into north China and
Manchuria will be Chinese forces representing the Chinese Government and
not Communist forces representing the regime at Yenan or Kuomintang
forces representing the Government at Chungking. The Generalissimo
realizes the dangers posed, but he does nothing to prevent them. He
stubbornly adheres to his oft-repeated contention that military unity
must come first and insists that the number of Chinese Communist armies
must be reduced even though they may be needed in the future.
A few days ago the Generalissimo summoned the leaders of the independent
party groups (who have been in Chungking for the meeting of the People’s
Political Council) to a conference. According to one of the independent
party leaders who was present, Mr. Li Huang, the Generalissimo invited
the independent parties to cooperate with the Kuomintang and assured
them that their parties would be accorded legal status. He had made it
clear, however, that the Communists would be excluded from such an
arrangement because they maintain a separate Party army.
But the Kuomintang also has a Party army. If the Generalissimo wishes to
be consistent, the Kuomintang army should be converted into a purely
Chinese Government army and altogether divorced from politics, following
which the Communists would have no grounds for maintaining a separate
Party army. He (Dr. Sun) had made this point with the Generalissimo some
time ago and the latter had at the time indicated his agreement but has
taken no measures to carry the idea into effect.
