Press Release Issued by the Department of State
In view of misunderstandings that have arisen concerning the Secretary’s statements about China at his March 10 press conference, it is pointed out that the Secretary referred to President Truman’s statement of December 15, 1945. That statement expressed the belief of the United States “that peace, unity and democratic reform in China will be furthered if the basis of this Government (China’s) is broadened to include other political elements in the country”. The Secretary said that this statement still stands. When asked specifically whether broadening the base of the Chinese Government meant we favored the inclusion of the Chinese Communist Party, he replied that the Communists were now in open rebellion against the Government and that this matter (the determination of whether the Communists should be included in the Chinese Government) was for the Chinese Government to decide, not for the United States Government to dictate.