893.00 Manchuria/10–2247: Airgram
The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29—3:30 p.m.]
A–214. There is set forth below the substance of the remarks of a reputable Chinese official of CNRRA, well known to the Ambassador, who has recently returned from an official visit to the northeast and called on the Ambassador on October 17, 1947:
The people of Manchuria of all classes are strongly anti-Government because of mistreatment at the hands of Government representatives sent to the northeast after V–J Day. This feeling is to some extent being rectified by General Ch’en Ch’eng, but it is still very strong. Meanwhile the serious military reverses of the Government have made the overall situation extremely critical. Although General Ch’en Ch’eng has improved the military outlook as well as local sentiment to some extent, the exigencies of the situation make it necessary to continue to rely on troops brought from China proper rather than to build up a defense establishment recruited from the local people.
Northeasterners serving in official positions for the Government who have been captured by the Communists are usually held for several months and subjected to a course of indoctrination before being released. Upon their return these people are usually frank in saying that Communist organization, discipline, treatment of peasants, etc., are all better than in Government controlled areas. On the other hand, there is no general tendency among the local people to favor Communism as an ideology.
A number of Manchurians now associated with the Communists in positions of responsibility are not at heart with the Communists, but have been driven into the Communist camp by the attitude of the Government toward them individually or because of general dissatisfaction with Government policies.