893.00/1–2749: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 28—10:33 a. m.]
237. Most thought-provoking is last paragraph Moscow’s telegram 158, January 21 to Department which recounts how Soviet censor suppressed word “everywhere” following statement in NY Herald Tribune correspondent despatch that “Mao’s program confirms thinking Communists”.
From material reaching us, it seems apparent that Communists now Yugoslavia, France, Poland, and elsewhere except in USSR are greatly elated by CCP victories. Soviets are only Communists whose enthusiasm is lagging.
We cannot put our finger on any pat reason for lukewarm attitude of Soviets. Certainly it cannot be accounted for by theoretical writings of CCP which during past few months have been more than fervid in their protestations of loyalty to “first land of Socialism”.
If lukewarm attitude is to be interpreted other than as maneuver in itself Soviet peace offensive or as error of censor, we would suggest as possible explanations:
- (1)
- High level discussions between Soviet and Chinese CP’s concerning policy in Southeast Asia, and particularly Manchuria, are running into snags;
- (2)
- Kremlin planners, as Communists, are less enthusiastic over their little Chinese brothers than they are concerned, as Russians, over possible emergence of relatively strong and well-integrated Chinese state at their backdoor and
- (3)
- Their misadventure in China during ’20’s, has conditioned Stalin68 and few surviving old Bolsheviks to view all Chinese with profound distrust.
At this time it may be useful to record our impression that local Soviet Embassy personnel are far from enthusiastic about China, Chinese and even Chinese communism. Their opinion of Chinese seems to verge on contempt, an attitude which easily manifested itself to American officials in Vladivostok where Chinese colony was quite important before its liquidation in 1936. Soviet thinking was neatly epitomized recently by Soviet Military Attaché who told us he thought Chinese civil war is not “a genuine war” and that it does not even remotely resemble war allies recently fought in Europe.
Sent Department 237, pouched Shanghai, repeated Moscow 10.
- Josif Vissarionovich Stalin, Soviet Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union.↩