693.0023/4–1947: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 19—5:21 a.m.]
848. Yesterday afternoon I called on President Chiang and congratulated him on establishment of State Council after overcoming all harassing difficulties which had delayed this so long. I expressed my approval especially over Kmt61 names and independents. He remarked that minority parties were also represented by scholarly men of good character though not so well known.
President Chiang spoke of Dairen issue62 with strong feeling and of Government’s intention to stand firmly for its rights in locating troops, etc., but to rely on diplomatic procedure and publicity and to avoid provocative action. Two battalions would first be sent partly overland and partly by sea.
I had proposed before his departure early this month to supply him with the substance of certain Consular reports from Formosa and, when he asked for this, I gave him a memorandum63 translated into Chinese which had been prepared in the Embassy.
Before leaving, I remarked that recent events were all tending toward struggle between Communists and democratic ways of life in which the test would be which could do more for welfare of common people and with them as judges that we, who believed in democracy, should stress the differences—freedom, publicity, civic rights, etc. and bring out contrasts by our own positive improvements. I expressed the hope that China would for her own sake as well as larger interests involved make her full contribution. He nodded assent though he needs constant reminders of this nature in his progress toward more democratic concepts.