Nanking Embassy Files, Lot F–73: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
151715. For the President from Ambassador Hurley. I presented President Truman’s message to Chiang Kai-shek this morning at 10 o’clock. The Generalissimo said that he would not make a formal reply to the message until the arrival of Soong. He discussed the entire message with me informally. He raised three preliminary questions. He said that the answer to these questions would assist him in making a quick decision on the arrival of Soong. The questions are:
- (1)
- Would the Government of the United States participate in the joint use of Port Arthur as a naval base for the maintenance of peace in the Pacific?
- If the United States considered joint use desirable, China will make a suggestion to that effect in answer to Soviet Union’s proposals. The Generalissimo said that if the United States decides that it would participate in the use of Port Arthur as a naval base, he would then suggest, if agreeable to the United States, the advisability of permitting Britain to participate also thereby making China, the Soviet Union, Britain and the United States—the “Big Four” nations in the war—participate jointly in the use of Port Arthur as a naval base.
- (2)
- The Generalissimo is anxious for the United States to be a party to China’s agreement with the Soviet Union. The presence of a third party he believes will make more certain compliance with the terms of the agreement when finally consummated. On this same theory he would have no objections if the United States thought it proper to have both the United States and Britain parties to China’s agreement with the Soviet Union.
- (3)
- The Generalissimo suggested for the purpose of discussion that questions pertaining to transfer of Sakhalin and the Kuriles seem matters for consideration of the United Nations or at least China, Britain, Soviet and United States rather than Soviet and China alone.
The Generalissimo frankly desires the United States and if agreeable to the United States, Britain, to participate in China’s treaty with the Soviet Union. He points out that the agreement for trusteeship for Korea under China, Britain, Soviet and United States indicates advisability of four-party agreement all the way through.
On the suggestion of the Generalissimo I omitted from the official communication to him the following two sentences, “Stalin wishes to discuss his proposals direct with Soong in Moscow before the first of July,” and “T. V. Soong has been given this information.” The Generalissimo said that his reason for keeping these two sentences out of the official document indicates no lack of desire on his part to have Soong handle negotiations for China but if foregoing suggestions are acceptable to the United States then the United States and Britain would in all probability desire to have representatives present for the discussion of the problems and the consummation of the agreement.