711.93/2–2047: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—11:55 p.m.]
319. Following statement issued by Minister of Information Peng Hsueh-pei on 18th:
“I am informed by cable from the United States of an Associated Press dispatch from Nanking dated February 15, which apparently was not printed in China. This dispatch contains several misstatements and distortions. Part of the dispatch appears to be based on an off-the-record interview granted by President Chiang Kai-shek to a group of American editors and publishers, without identification as such, but reports it in garbled form.
“The AP story quoted ‘sources close to’ President Chiang as stating that ‘US decisions to withhold further armament credit from the Chinese Government were blamed by the Generalissimo for prolonging the civil war’. I was present at President Chiang’s interview, and I feel compelled to make the necessary correction. He did not question America’s right to refuse arms and credits, but gave as his off-the-record opinion that public announcement of insistence on a coalition government including the Communists as a condition for granting [Page 40] of loans and selling of arms only emboldened the Communists to adopt an adamant attitude and to refuse to negotiate with the Government. To present this statement as indication that the Gmo was blaming the US for prolonging the civil war is clearly a distortion.
“The same off-the-record statement of the President apparently is the basis of the assertion in the AP story that ‘confidantes of Chiang said the Gmo reasoned the Communist problem could have been settled quicker if the US had continued supplying guns, ammunition and credit so his armies could destroy the Communists. The distorted nature of this inference also is obvious.
“The AP story quoted a ‘high source’ as stating that the Gmo was ‘bitter that his argument failed to move Truman and Marshall’ but the Gmo said nothing of the kind.
“The story mentioned that the government had ‘sternly declined to accept delivery’ of a communication from the Communists. This referred to the return by the government of a message seeking to repudiate treaties entered into by the government. The National Government’s message section considered it grotesque that a political party could presume to take such action, and sent the message back.” End full text.