123 [Patrick J. Hurley]: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 27—6:20 a.m.]
1452. Tung [sic] the Generalissimo requested me yesterday to proceed to Yenan to accompany Mao Tze-tung and party to Chungking. [Page 454] I am departing at noon today and have released the following statement to the press:
“I am going to Yenan with the consent and full approval of the Generalissimo and on the invitation of Mao Tze-tung, chairman of the Communist Party of China. I shall accompany Mao Tze-tung and his party to Chungking where they will enter into direct negotiations with the Generalissimo and the National Government.
“I am happy to be returning to Yenan. We have worked continuously for more than a year to help the National Government remove the possibility of civil war in China. In this controversy there have been so many conflicting elements that it is a source of gratification to us that we have been able to maintain the respect and confidence of the leaders of both parties.”
We expect to return to Chungking tomorrow.