893.00/2–1347: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 13—5:17 a.m.]
271. Summary political remarks of Minister of Information Peng Hsueh-pei at weekly press conference 12th:
“The minority parties will be invited to take part in the State Council, Legislative Yuan, Executive Yuan, Control Yuan and Interim People’s Political Council and the standing committee of the association for the Promotion of Enforcement of the Constitution. We cannot tell yet how soon the reorganization can be completed. Number of seats for third parties in State Council not yet decided.
It is hardly possible to talk peace while the Communists are launching attacks on Government troops everywhere, although some of the attacks are merely for international propaganda or for enhancing the morale of their rank and file after successive defeats. In addition to this they are doing everything in their power to incite the workers to strike and the students to flout discipline. They are organizing a so-called ‘boycott American goods’ movement and a ‘destroy the constitution’ movement. Their aim is to create international complications and to shake public confidence. But as the saying goes, ‘fire destroys wood but strengthens iron’. The Chinese nation will emerge stronger than ever from this ordeal as it did from the Japanese aggression.
Verbal agreement reached for closure of Yellow River gap and UNRRA–CNRRA65 work on dykes will proceed aimed at completing closure by mid-March.
[Page 38]No book bans in China. Both versions of Generalissimo’s China’s Destiny will be permitted in China.”
[For statement by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, issued at Chungking on February 16, 1947, see United States Relations With China, page 704.]
- United Nations and China National Relief and Rehabilitation Administrations, respectively.↩