893.00/4–2745: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27—4:55 p.m.]
1394. Avarin article “Whither China?”, appearing in April 15 War and Working Class and summarized in my 1345, April 26 [25] to Department,15 repeated to Chungking as 32, April 26, prompts following comments.
Repeated reference to the Chinese Government as Chungking Government is not new departure but is more marked than in recent other articles on China.
Although condemnation of Kuomintang is more sweeping than heretofore, it is still admitted that there are liberals in party. For them the door is still ajar.
The door is likewise left open for the Generalissimo. He is not specifically identified with Kuomintang and reactionaries. Quotation of statements by Chiang admitting China’s weaknesses and warning reactionaries seems to indicate Soviet disposition at least for time being not to classify the Generalissimo with London Polish leaders and other “enemies of democracy.” (Repeated Chungking as 36.) This is in contrast to Yenan’s identification of Chiang with the forces of reaction. This relative reserve and obvious caution with [which] Moscow continues to treat the person of Chiang is open to a number of interpretations. In particular if Yenan is considered here to have been exhibiting undue political health and outward independence then Moscow’s tolerant attitude toward Chiang may represent a delicate warning that the Kremlin has more than one string to its Chinese bow. It would not be out of accord with established Russian methods to hold open and exploit the possibility of collaboration with Chiang as a means of impressing Yenan with the necessity for hewing closely to the line of solidarity with Russia.
- Not printed; the article, after attacking Kuomintang “reactionary diehards”, concluded that, “unless urgent measures for the democratization of the political life of the country and the creation of national unity are carried out, China cannot occupy the place in the community of democratic nations that she ought”. (893.00/4–2545)↩