Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East: China, Volume VII

893.00/1–3048: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, January 30, 1948—6 p. m.
[Received January 30—9:37 a. m.]

209. Re Contel 154 dated January 30.¹⁷ Similar violent editorial on subject of American policy toward Japan was published in January 29 issue of influential Tung Nan Jih Pao (CC organ).

While such editorials follow general tone of much previous local press comment, apparent timing of these especially vicious and incendiary attacks to coincide with Pei Tsu-yi’s¹⁸ visit in US and reported presentation to Chinese Government of US plan for rehabilitation Japanese economy suggests strongly that Nanking may be once more resorting to practice, too often adopted with disastrous results by China in past and recently repeated in connection with Kowloon eviction case, of fanning popular Chauvinism to point where Government can intimate that it cannot be responsible for consequences if pushed too far toward accepting unpalatable conditions in international negotiations. It would appear also to be case where Government fighting for its survival and desperately needing (1) American aid and (2) popular support, is seeking to gain such support by easy but dangerous method of helping to swell, in the hope of riding upon, a wave of anti-foreignism (directed largely against the very source of aid it wishes to obtain) instead of by sound but difficult method of basic reforms.

Ta Kung Pao editorial under reference climaxes long series of increasingly anti-American editorials most of which have centered on that paper’s thesis that China must block “America’s attempt to make Japan anti-Russian base”. Especially unfortunate impression is created by fact of paper’s traditional reputation for fair-minded objectivity and its identification in eyes public with Political Science Group now to [so] prominent in direction of Chinese Government and its foreign relations. Large degree of responsibility on part of Group and of Government would appear unescapable as indicated by facts: (1) that paper’s views on American policy toward Japan have long been paralleled by similar and scarcely less persistent attacks on US in Kmt-controlled press; (2) that as confirmed by many informed sources, Government while forbidding Ta Kung Pao to editorialize on certain specified subjects allows it complete freedom in other specified fields, and that it must obviously have indicated to paper its non-objection to attacks on our Japan policy; (3) that Political Science leaders have not denied their reported control of paper.

If opportunity presents itself I intend to make informal representations to paper’s local editors pointing out that they should have as much natural affinity for our point of view as any newspaper in China and that editorial shows no real comprehension of issues involved. Suggest that Embassy might also wish to take up matter with Wang Shih-chieh or other high political science leader now in Government such as Wu Ting-chang¹⁹ (reported owner of paper). Department may see desirability of (1) issuing more frequent public statements of our policy toward Japan and (2) supplying USIS interpretative counter material.

Sent Nanking 158, repeated Secretary State 209.

Cabot

17. Telegram to the Embassy apparently not repeated to the Department.
18. Head of the Chinese Technical Mission to the United States; for correspondence, see vol. viii , “U.S. Economic Aid to China”.
19. Director of the Department of Civil Affairs of Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek’s Headquarters, generally referred to as Secretary General; in May he was appointed Secretary General of the Office of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.