893.00/10–746: Telegram

The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State

1607. Following is Yenan reply to Minister of Information’s statement (RefEmbtel 1580, October 3) as released in China News Agency October 4th:

In reply to the queries by our correspondent about Peng Hsueh-pei’s statement of October 2, the qualified circles here made the following answers: Question: Do you think that Chiang Kai-shek is ready to cease fire? Answer: No, no such indication can be found at present. On the contrary:

1.
Chiang Kai-shek’s troops are now launching offensive against Kalgan, despite the fact that the Communist Party has seriously informed him and Marshall of the situation: Kuomintang offensive against Kalgan does not cease, it will lead to total national split. The fact that Peng Hsueh-pei in his statement evaded the issue reveals Chiang Kai-shek’s determination for a total national split.
2.
Chiang Kai-shek is now enlarging his troops, conscripting recruits, raising loans to buy war materials, persecuting democratic people, banning democratic press and even making open propaganda of “suppressing bandits” which means “suppressing Communists”. All these show he is ready to fight the civil war to the end.
3.
Chiang Kai-shek has time and again refused the proposal for the reopening of the Committee of Three and for cessation of hostilities. But now he suddenly expresses his consent. His plan is to get a ratification from the Committee of Three for his illegal occupation and illegal military movement, which have been made in violation of the cease fire order, and to strangle the Chinese Communist Party and every other democratic force in the country to death. This intrigue of Chiang Kai-shek has been solidly affirmed by Peng Hsueh-pei’s statement, in which Peng attempts to use the army reorganization plus a unilateral binding on the people’s liberation forces at a time when the army reorganization plan has already been completely broken to pieces by Chiang Kai-shek through the second session of the Kuomintang Central Executive Committee and in his subsequent actions of moving troops, attacking the liberated areas, expanding his army, and effective conscription.

Question: What should be the tasks of the Committee of Three? Answer: First of all, it should unconditionally restore the validity of the cease fire agreement of January 10, that is, all areas occupied by Chiang Kai-shek’s troops since January 13, 1946 must be evacuated and all Chiang’s troops moved in violation of this agreement since that date must return to their original positions. This is the only legal, rational and effective guarantee. If this cannot be done, we [Page 303] will determinedly struggle to the end for the realization of the cease fire order and the PCC decisions.

Question: What is the attitude of the Communist Party toward the participation in the National Government and the National Assembly? Answer: The Chinese Communist Party will put this matter under consideration only when the guarantee has been gained for the peace based on the cease fire agreement of January 10.

Stuart