761.93/6–2444
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
Dr. H. H. Kung, accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador, called to pay his respects. After a cordial greeting and welcome, I inquired about the situation in China. Dr. Kung did not go into detail but did refer to the possibility of danger in the present Japanese military movements which might terminate in opening a road to Singapore for the Japanese. He then said that, of course, the Chinese were hoping for better results in the end. He thanked me in particular for the things we had done to aid China.
Dr. Kung referred to the traditional friendship between our peoples and said that his country considered this country its best friend. He expressed appreciation for my efforts in behalf of China at Moscow and also in regard to the conversations being undertaken by the four [Page 801] great powers. I referred briefly to the efforts the President and I have constantly made to get certain differences, such as the Russian–Polish dispute, worked out in a fair and reasonable manner from the standpoint of all concerned. I said that these private and personal conversations were much more effective than formal committees coming from some world council and waiting for Marshal Stalin in a group, with interpreters, aides and stenographers present. I said we were constantly advocating this informal method of settling differences between Russia and Poland, or among other allied countries, such as China, et cetera. I added that we say the same things to Russia about China that we say to China about Russia when it comes to efforts to aid in bringing about or encouraging a settlement of differences between them.
I reported fully to Dr. Kung about the present status of the proposed conversations between the four large nations regarding a postwar security organization plan. I spoke favorably of the impression Marshal Stalin and his Government were making and referred at the same time to their difficulties and the disposition of this Government to continue in every way possible to cooperate. I expressed the hope that Russia and China could gradually reduce their small differences, as well as the apparent coolness evidenced from time to time. I stressed the fact that friendly and individual conversations were the only means to bring about a satisfactory settlement of these differences. I referred to the importance of not permitting troublemakers to circulate wild stories between the two Governments, such as a recent report that Russia had entered into a special understanding with Japan. After this report fell into the hands of Japanese propagandists, it, of course, spread to China, then to Germany and other parts of the world and finally to Russia through indirect sources, with Russia subsequently denying it in talking to us. I added that, if I might be permitted to say so, it was very dangerous to permit enemy propagandists and other sinister influences to invent and spread such stories throughout the world, and that the only remedy was for the two Governments through suitable representatives to keep in close and constant touch with each other so as to kill all fraudulent and lying propaganda before it could take root. I said that I knew that this was very presumptuous of me to say but that I was perhaps overanxious to see China and these other countries get back to thoroughly agreeable personal and official relations. In saying these things, I stated I was only talking about conditions and in no sense making reference to the actual records of each country in dealing with these matters.