893.00/9–1246: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 12—12:47 p.m.]
1474. Minister of Information in press conference September 11 stated that “mere Government order of cease fire won’t save situation but if Communists would demonstrate their sincerity and take cooperative attitude, fighting will cease instantly”. He said further that the Government does not favor solving Communist problem by force of arms but wishes reconstruction at earliest possible moment. “When great strides are made in this direction, all the hungry hordes under the sway of the Communist Party, military or civilian, will find employment and return to their normal occupations. Once deprived of their mischievous means of disturbance, the Communists will be reinstated as peaceful citizens; it matters not whether some of them still really believe in Marxism or totalitarianism. These ideologies found expression 25 centuries ago in the philosophies of the Chou Dynasty.” Minister also warned against negotiations becoming involved in a vicious circle in which one party agrees to terms and the other then puts forth additional demands which in turn provoke others.
Following conference between General Marshall and Chou En-lai after former’s return from Kuling, Communist spokesman Wang Ping-nan issued statement to press that Communists would not participate in any negotiation without categorical Government guarantee of cease fire.