893.00/1–1049: Telegram
The Appointed Ambassador in China (Hurley) to President Roosevelt
After a long delay the Vice-Chairman of the Communist Party of China, General Chow En-lai, returned to Yenan. I received a letter from him, dated 10 [8] December, saying that the three point program submitted to the Communist Party by the National Government is not acceptable. The Communist Party wishes to discontinue negotiations and to publish their five point proposal of agreement which I outlined to you in my telegram dated 17th [16th] November, No. CFB 26572. I summarize the Government’s three points as follows:
- (1)
- Reorganization and incorporation of the Communist forces in the National Army with treatment same as National Army with regard to pay, allowances and supplies and recognition of the Communist Party as a legal political party.
- (2)
- The Communist Party of China will undertake to give their full support to the National Government in the prosecution of the war and post-war reconstruction and will be given membership in the National Military Council.
- (3)
- The Communist Party and the National Government will support the principles of Sun Yat-sen and will pledge themselves to pursue policies designed to promote the progress and development of democratic processes in government and to establish democratic individual rights and civil liberties.
The Communists claim that the rejection of their proposals and the offer of the National Government’s proposal is equivalent to asking [Page 734] the Communist Party to surrender to the National Government. Their contention is that so long as democratic processes are not operative in China the Generalissimo’s offer of limited representation in the Government does not give them a real voice in administration. They maintain that their rights can be safeguarded only if they are accepted on a basis of equality and a genuine coalition government formed.
The offer of the Communist Party was not treated with due consideration by the Kuomintang or the National Government. Nevertheless, Chiang Kai-shek again advises me that it has been and is his earnest desire to arrive at a settlement with the Communist Party. I have stated to him that he and his government have failed to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Communist Party for a settlement. He pleaded that he had been so busy on the military situation that he had not been able to give enough attention to the proposed settlement and he now authorizes his Acting President of the Executive Yuan, Dr. Soong, and others, to take the matter up with the Communist Party and effect a settlement. He asked me to use my good offices and to again open negotiations with the Communists. He assured me again and wished me to assure you that it is now his purpose to make a settlement with the Communist Party his first order of business. I am insisting that the Government itself reopen the negotiations with the Communist Party and assume responsibility for the negotiations.
One feature that has developed in the last few days is a statement by the Communist leaders to our Colonel Barrett, who is in Chargé of our military mission in Yenan, that the Communist Party has an offer of lend lease from Britain, and that aid will be given by Britain to the Communist Party without the consent of the National Government. This statement seems incredible to me but I am investigating it and will give you a report on it as soon as I have consulted the proper British officials.