893.00/11–2248: Airgram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—2:10 p. m.]
A–283. One interesting little side light on the current mentality of at least certain high ranking Chinese Government officials came out in a recent conversation between Dr. George Yeh, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and an officer of this Embassy. Dr. Yeh said there was general gossip in Nanking that if a coalition government should be formed, or if the Communists assumed full power, the United States would find it possible to accommodate its policy to such developments and would be prepared to increase its trade relations with such a government. According to him, the gossip interprets the continued presence of the American Consul General in Mukden as proof of these views. It is also stated that the United States is already engaged in trade talks with the Communists in Manchuria.
A check of various sources available to us in Nanking fails to reveal that any such statements are being made anywhere, except insofar as there are occasional remarks to the effect that failure of the United States to provide additional aid must surely indicate that it prefers the Communists. It seems likely to us that Dr. Yeh’s deliberate falsification arises from what seems to be a deliberate campaign of the [Page 601] Government to place the onus of the current situation entirely on the United States. We also believe that, if it became necessary, he might well find it possible to accommodate himself to changed circumstances.