893.50 Recovery/12–1648: Circular Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions 26
Following may be useful as guidance answering any questions about Hoffman’s Shanghai statements27 which have been interpreted some quarters as meaning US aid for Chinese coalition govt incl Communists.
Use McDermott28 statement Wireless Bulletin 293 Dec 14.29 Hoffman’s original statement included: “Purpose my visit not to determine or define policy US toward China. I haven’t qualifications or authority settle complex military political issues involved.” Thereafter he responded informally on basis his personal opinion re hypothetical developments to effect he would favor continuance aid if successor govt evolved which represented all people and would not restrict human freedoms.
Re US policy toward European govts incl Communists might be useful refer to Secy’s speech Berkeley, Calif March 19:30 “Since association (with ERP31) entirely voluntary people any nation have right change minds and in effect withdraw. If they choose to vote into power govt in which dominant polit force would be party whose hostility this program has been frequently publicly and emphatically proclaimed this could only be considered as evidence desire that country to disassociate itself from program. This govt would have to [Page 651] conclude Italy had removed itself from benefits European Recovery Program.”
Also speech Los Angeles March 20:32 “We now know here and abroad Sov Union and communist parties Europe will go extreme lengths defeat recovery and revival strong, democratic and independent Europe. Despite their aggressive opposition, we and western nations Europe determined recovery shall be achieved, tyranny of govt shall be checked and peoples who wish govern themselves shall remain free do so.”
Instructions to VoUSA33 re Hoffman story were: Stress reference Truman’s last-minute instructions urging make clear US friendship Chinese people. Stress restatement ECA’s purposes—aid peoples not govts get econ rehabilitation so free institutions can emerge. Use Marshall’s June speech.34 Stress references US interest in human freedoms. Statement about not being competent discuss mil or polit matters is good. (Rptd Moscow for info.)
- The Missions at Ankara, Athens, Berlin, Bern, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, The Hague, Lisbon, London, Oslo, Paris, Reykjavik, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna, and Moscow.↩
- Paul G. Hoffman, Administrator of Economic Cooperation Administration; text of his press conference at Shanghai on December 13 not found in Department files.↩
- Michael J. McDermott, Special Assistant to the Secretary for Press Relations.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Department of State Bulletin, March 28, 1948, p. 422.↩
- European Recovery Program.↩
- Department of State press release No. 221, March 19, not printed.↩
- Voice of America.↩
- Department of State press release No. 459, June 7, not printed.↩