893.00/6–647
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent) to the Secretary of State
I believe you will find it worthwhile reading the attached brief46 of Ambassador Stuart’s recent report47 on the situation in China. He makes no recommendations and indulges in no predictions other than to state in his final paragraph that “mob violence may break out” but that “apart from this there is not apt to be a collapse so much as disintegration”. However, he does say that “our policy may have [Page 169] a determining influence” by which he means, I gather, our policy with regard to aid. My own thought is that any aid which it would be practicable to give China now can at best have only a moderating influence.
We are moving forward now with a program for the “limited” type of military and financial aid in accordance with your instructions of last week.