893.00/4–1745
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Stanton)
Mr. Stanton called on Ambassador Harriman this morning and asked Mr. Harriman if he would be so good as to read telegram no. 1212 of April 17, 7 p.m. from Ambassador Hurley to the Secretary which was dispatched after Mr. Harriman had left Moscow. The telegram summarized General Hurley’s discussions with Marshal Stalin and Foreign Commissar Molotov in regard to the situation in China.
After reading the telegram Mr. Harriman, who was present during all conversations with Marshal Stalin, remarked that while factually correct he thought that General Hurley had given a too optimistic impression of Marshal Stalin’s reactions. Mr. Harriman went on to say that the conversations had not disclosed anything new in regard to Marshal Stalin’s views, so far as they were known, in regard to either Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek or the question of internal unity in China. He said he believed Marshal Stalin felt that the Generalissimo was the outstanding figure on the Chinese political scene but that he was surrounded by reactionary and corrupt advisers. Mr. Stanton inquired whether it could be inferred from anything said during the conferences that Marshal Stalin would cooperate with the Generalissimo whether or not an agreement was reached between the Kuomintang and the Communists. Mr. Harriman replied that he was certain Marshal Stalin would not cooperate indefinitely with Chiang Kai-shek and that if and when Russia enters the conflict in the Far East he would make full use of and support the Chinese Communists even to the extent of setting up a puppet government in Manchuria and possibly north China, if Kuomintang-Communist differences had not been resolved by that time and a united Chinese government established which was “friendly” to Soviet Russia. Mr. Harriman said he felt the question of Soviet-Chinese relations was extremely important and likely to cause us serious trouble and that therefore we should do everything possible to promote unity in China and reestablish relations between China and Soviet Russia on a solid and harmonious basis.
In discussing the Soviet attitude toward our present policies and efforts with respect to China, Mr. Harriman said that Marshal Stalin apparently endorsed the initiative we had taken in attempting to bring about political and military unification in China; that Marshal Stalin would in all probability continue to endorse our efforts; and that Marshal Stalin had been impressed by and liked General Hurley’s [Page 342] frank statement of the efforts he had made during the past several months to bring about an agreement between the Kuomintang and the Communists. However, Mr. Harriman reiterated his previous statement that if internal unity were not achieved by the time Soviet Russia entered the war in the Far East he felt certain that the Russians would follow a course of action with respect to the Chinese Communists which would confront us with problems as grave and serious as those which had arisen in Europe. With respect to the Soviet Union’s desires concerning Manchuria, Mr. Harriman said he did not believe they had in mind any territorial cessions but that they were definitely interested in Manchurian railroads and a commercial and naval base at Port Arthur.
Asked whether he thought General Hurley fully understood Marshal Stalin’s views, Mr. Harriman said he thought General Hurley must have a pretty clear picture and added that he had impressed on General Hurley the fact that statements made by Marshal Stalin endorsing our efforts in China did not necessarily mean that the Russians would not pursue whatever course of action seemed to them best to serve their interests. Mr. Harriman remarked there was a possibility that General Hurley might give Generalissimo Chiang an over-optimistic account of his conversations with Stalin and that it might be advisable to telegraph General Hurley suggesting that he should be careful not to arouse unfounded expectations.
In reply to a question Ambassador Harriman said Marshal Stalin had agreed to receive Dr. T. V. Soong after the San Francisco conference.