740.00119 Control (Japan)/7–947: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
170. CX 53602. 1. Reourtel 158, June 15th, Soviet charges against American occupation authorities and our top secret despatch No. 692, November 7th, 1946,2 last two paragraphs.
2. DepartmentAs Department is aware from Nanking’s frequent reports, American occupation authorities are under almost daily false attack by Chinese Government-controlled press which repeatedly carries charges that we are building up Japan at expense of China; that General MacArthur is too lenient with the Japanese; that United States has abandoned ancient ally China for treasonable enemy Japan, et cetera. This propaganda is not only harmful to the occupation but undoubtedly is injurious to Sino-American relations. During recent visits here of Monnett Davis,3 and Butterworth,4 suggestion was made that we furnish USIS Shanghai with appropriate material for dissemination to Chinese press giving pertinent factual information concerning the occupation and our policies and also appropriate refutations of the constant stream of charges and allegations.
3. With present staff we are unable undertake task this nature, just as we have been unable for personnel reasons to meet numerous requests from Department for routine information of various kinds. Most practicable solution would be to assign here competent and experienced information officer, possibly one from Shanghai who understands Chinese press and problem of dealing therewith, and I request such assignment be made. This request has full endorsement of General MacArthur.
4. Such officer, working with appropriate SCAP officers, could also despatch radio information to USIS Shanghai regarding SCAP press releases and undertake preparation and despatch appropriate material to Canberra, Wellington, and New Delhi, all of which are sources of strong anti-American propaganda in connection with our Japan policies. In general, he would develop systematic flow of needed information concerning American policies and activities here to Pacific area sources of anti-American propaganda. With appropriate cooperation by our missions those places, much harmful misunderstanding of American policies and activities would be dispelled.
5. Meanwhile, suggest Department may wish to consider taking up with Chinese Government anti-American propaganda in Government-controlled press, especially in light of long standing [Page 239] American friendship with and assistance to China which has been concretely evidenced in the last few years, especially during wartime.
6. Please instruct.5
- Not printed.↩
- Consul General at Shanghai.↩
- W. Walton Butterworth, Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China.↩
- In telegram 320, August 13, 6 p.m., to Tokyo, the Department indicated that it was sending a series of articles meant to counteract criticism of U.S. policy vis-à-vis Japan, but that the assignment of an information officer to Tokyo was not possible at the time due to budget cuts (740.00119 Control (Japan)/7–1547).↩