893.00/2–1449: Telegram
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 14—3:32 a. m.]
[Cantel] 40. Premier Sun Fo, in statement in English to foreign press February 11, invited UN38 mediation along lines suggested by Evatt,39 “providing, of course, that the other side would be willing to accept the good offices of the UN”. Sun mentioned Chinese Government’s notes to Great Britain, France, USSR and US asking them to serve as intermediaries and then, in reference to attempts at direct negotiation being made by Li Tsung-jen, stated that “direct approaches may prove impossible. Under such circumstances, UN mediation may be only practical way to bring about a settlement of internal war in China”.
In thus speaking of UN mediation as virtual last resort, Sun seems to indicate that portion of Chinese Government he heads has already abandoned idea of any compromise with the Communists (although portion of Government remaining Nanking is still actively trying to achieve such compromise) and is in effect making this appeal to UN as final gesture toward peace before declaring all attempts at settlement with Reds have proven fruitless. This, of course, would be prelude to call for irreconcilables to begin final all-out resistance from south, west and Taiwan.
Unusually reliable source states that Sun Fo issued this request for UN mediation without consulting either Acting President or members of his own Cabinet. In any event, this statement is further outward sign of deep inward policy split between portion of Government which moved south and portion which remained Nanking, and will undoubtedly place another stumbling block in path of Li Tsung-jen’s peace mission to Communists.
Sent Department. Repeated Nanking 41, Shanghai 20.