893.00/3–2145: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:05 p.m.]
2915. The Times editorial on Chinese unity (see Embassy’s 2914, March 2172) published this morning was commented on by Sterndale Bennett who expressed the view that it was a valuable statement of the present problem confronting the Chinese. He said that the conclusion reached by the editorial, namely, that if the “Communists” content themselves with a plain refusal of the offer of Central Government they will put themselves in the wrong, was undoubtedly correct and he felt that the time had come when this should be made plain. Sterndale Bennett expressed the opinion that the favorable publicity recently showered on the Chinese Communists in both the U. S. and Great Britain may have had the effect of making the Communists more intransigent than they would otherwise have been and that it is now necessary to give them a word of warning. He emphasized that Chinese unity is essential but that it can only come about if both factions are willing to compromise. He feels that the Central Government has made a reasonable offer and that it is up to the Communists to make more than merely a negative reply.
- Not printed.↩