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Mr. Chou En-lai to the Appointed Ambassador in China (Hurley)
My Dear General Hurley: I would like to thank you for your kind consideration to me during my stay in Chungking.
On my return here I immediately made a detailed report to Chairman Mao Tse-tung and to the Central Committee of our Party on the course of the negotiations. After very careful discussion we all feel in view of the fact that President Chiang Kai-shek and the National Government having already refused our minimum five-point proposal and put forth their own three-point proposal, clearly disagreeing [Page 724] with our suggestions for a Coalition Government and United Military Council, it is impossible for us to find any fundamental common basis in these two proposals. Thus this actually precludes any possibility for me to return to Chungking for negotiations. At the same time, to reply to inquiries from all circles, it is thought that publication of our five-point proposal is called for to draw this to the attention of public opinion and forward the changing of the attitude of the Government. I take this opportunity to inform you of this.
Because of your sympathy and your energetic efforts on behalf of unity in China, Chairman Mao Tse-tung has specially asked me to express his deep thanks and appreciation.
As for the question of military cooperation between us, in spite of the fact that at present President Chiang Kai-shek limits it from all sides so that it cannot achieve easy solution, nevertheless, to defeat our common enemy, we completely desire to continue to discuss with you and General Wedemeyer the concrete problems of our future military cooperation and continue to keep the closest contact with the U. S. Army Observers Section in Yenan under the command of Colonel David D. Barrett.
Please express my deepest thanks and regards to General Albert C. Wedemeyer and General Robert B. McClure.91
With best wishes for your continued health and success, I remain,
Yours respectfully,
- Chief of Staff to General Wedemeyer.↩