893.00/1–648: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 6—5:32 p. m.]
26. Pravda today devotes prominent space to Tass report Mao Tse-tung12 statement December 25 to Central Committee Chinese CP, text of which presumably available Department.
Embassy believes Mao’s speech characterizing present China situation as “turning point revolutionary war” to be extremely significant. Not only space given it Pravda but fact it made at this juncture confirms in Embassy eyes coordination activation Soviet policy Far East and Kremlin’s growing interest in China already noted (Embtels 3310, December 2,13 3337, December 914).
Embassy wishes draw Department’s particular attention to (1) Mao’s statement that “without firm leadership of Chinese CP no revolutionary united, front can be victorious”, (2) Mao’s parroting of Soviet theory of imminent American economic crisis and (3) his [Page 10] appeal all anti-imperialist forces of East to unite against imperialism [and] reaction in their countries.
Red Fleet today publishes long, detailed and seemingly generally accurate analysis Chinese military situation. All papers also carry Tass denial AP reported statement by General Sui Chin-min that Soviet Union supplying arms [and] advisers Chinese CP.
During past 10 days in addition above, Soviet periodicals have carried at least six prominent articles on China. Such evidence convinces Embassy Kremlin spotlight now focussing eastwards;
Department pass Nanking as Moscow’s 2.
- Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. vii, p. 396.↩