500.CC/3–3045: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:30 p.m.]
541. Following is a paraphrase of a telegram from Second Secretary Service, now in Yenan, received in H.Q. US forces, China Theater, on March 30 (ReEmbstel 535, March 29):
Yenan has received and accepted an official invitation from the Central Government for Tung Pi-wu to attend the Conference at San Francisco, and has requested authorization to take with him three assistants. If this request is granted, his assistants will probably be [Page 308] Chen Chia-kang (Secretary to Gen. Chou En-lai), a staff officer of the 18th Group Army, and the editor of the Hsin Hua Jih Pao. One of these men speaks Russian and the other two English. The Communists are now giving consideration to asking the Central Government to authorize the inclusion in the Chinese delegation of Chou. Although they anticipate a refusal, they feel that their position will be strengthened as they will have better grounds for protest over the inadequacy of the Communist representation.
In inviting Tung to attend the conference, Chungking has patently caused confusion in Yenan. Because of necessity for the return of military and other leaders to their respective areas, Communist Congress is to meet in April. As long as the Communists are participating at the conference, it is thought that no action will be taken toward the establishment of the federation of Communist governments.
Yenan anticipates that the Chinese Government delegation will prevent Tung from expressing his opinion to the conference or to the public. Therefore the efforts of the Communists at San Francisco will be directed toward informal contacts with the press and with other delegations.