893.00/1–2147: Telegram

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

119. Following is full text of statement issued 20th by Ministry of Information “on behalf of National Government”:

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“With a view to establishing constitutional rule and completing national reconstruction, Government has been consistently seeking for peace and unification.

[Here follows account of peace negotiations. For text of complete statement, see United States Relations With China, pages 697–699.]

After the adjournment of the National Assembly, the Government, with the date set for the enforcement of the constitution, made further efforts for the resumption of the peace talks. Through Doctor J. Leighton Stuart, US Ambassador, the Government informed the Communist Party of its willingness to send a representative to Yenan to resume the peace negotiations. But the Communists still insisted on the restoration of the troops’ dispositions extant on January 13 last year, and on the annulment of the constitution adopted by the National Assembly as the sine qua non conditions. But the fact is that great changes have occurred in the troops’ dispositions during the past year since January 13. It is practically impossible to revert to the original positions. Moreover withdrawal of Government troops from recovered areas would surely endanger the people’s lives and property in those areas—a thing most incompatible with the Government’s obligation to restore order and protect the people and to prevent the recurrence of Communist terrorism.

If the Communists are really sincere to achieve peace, they should implement the army reorganization plan28 and other programs reached in the Committee of Three. If so, there should be no need for any dispute over the temporary dispositions of the troops.

As regards the annulment of the Constitution, the National Assembly consisted of district, occupational and racial representatives and delegates from various political parties, in accordance with the PCC resolution. The Assembly, therefore, was by no means a Kmt-dominated Assembly. Moreover the Constitution adopted by the Assembly embodies the very principles laid down by the Communist Party and the other parties represented in the Political Consultative Conference, and in the draft constitution reviewing committee. Therefore, there should not be any reason for the Communists to object to the Constitution.

The above stated fact clearly indicated that in order to achieve peace and unity, the Government has made the greatest possible concessions to appeal to the reasonable consideration of the Communists. Since political democratization and nationalization of troops were common objectives of PCC there seems to be no reason why the Communists should cling to their prejudices and suspicions.

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Now the war has been over for more than a year, peace and unity must be achieved without delay. It is fervently hoped that the Communists will appreciate the Government’s earnest efforts to seek a political settlement and agree to resume negotiations. The Government is still ready to meet the Communists with tolerance and sincerity.

The Government thereby proposes the following four points for the resumption of the peace talks and government reorganization. The four points are:

(1)
The Government is willing to send a representative to Yenan, or to invite Communist delegates to come to Nanking to resume the peace talks, or to call a round-table conference to be attended by representatives of the various parties and independents.
(2)
The Government and the Communists will immediately order their troops to cease hostilities and remain at their present positions and negotiate effective measures to ensure cessation of hostilities.
(3)
The Government is prepared to resume negotiations with the Communists for the enforcement of the army reorganization plan and then restoration of communication agreement29 in accordance with the principles laid down by the Committee of Three.
(4)
Before the full operation of the constitution, the Government is willing to work out a just and equitable plan for solving the much controverted problem of regional administration.”

Stuart
  1. February 25, 1946, Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. ix, p. 295.
  2. For latter, see directive passed on June 24, 1946, Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. ix, p. 1186.