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Colonel David D. Barrett to the Appointed Ambassador in China (Hurley)
My Dear General Hurley: On December 28, 1944, Chairman Mao Tzu-tung and Vice-Chairman Chow En-lai informed me that they did not believe the President and the people of the United States realize how little the Generalissimo represents the Chinese people and to what an extent he has lost their support. They claim that there are many parties, factions, and individuals in China, in addition to the Chinese Communists, who earnestly desire reformation and reorganization of the government. These people, so my informants state, do not dare to express their sentiments strongly and openly because of the repressive measures of the Generalissimo and the Kuomintang Party, particularly as they are exercised through the secret police.
Vice-Chairman Chow gave me a list, which I send you herewith,13 of liberals, who he says desire reform but do not necessarily advocate the removal of the Generalissimo. These persons are not, so state Chairman Mao and General Chow, Communists or necessarily sympathetic with the Communists. They said they would be very glad if you would give as many as possible of these persons a chance to express to you in private their views on the present situation.
Very Respectfully,
- Not attached to file copy.↩