893.00/2–2049: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—11:49 p. m.]
429. Department may care to take measures publicly or otherwise for refuting mistaken impressions created by press accounts of forthcoming large-scale American military aid, such as those reported in Embtel 420, February 18, repeated Embassy Canton 84, and Tokyo 21, and Shanghai’s 586, February 17 to Department, repeated Tokyo 49, Nanking 398.60 These reports, which were prominently published in vernacular and English language press China, have effect of inciting Generalissimo and his irreconcilables to retake leadership now in renewed resistance movement. He is already being influenced, I hear, by arguments of his indispensability from small group die-hard supporters whose motives are not entirely disinterested.
Meanwhile Generalissimo is interfering in military affairs, thus hampering rather than helping Yangtze defense. (See my 336, February 8 to Department, repeated Shanghai 149, Canton Embassy 22.) Li Tsung-jen may eventually be sufficiently thwarted by these factors to feel forced to retire south, prematurely abandoning peace efforts. Only hope for public support for renewed resistance against Communists lies in convincing Chinese people that CCP does not desire peace on any tolerable basis. Li is presently endeavoring to put this to thoroughgoing test. US can, I feel, help most at this stage by avoidance public debate and objective appraisal of coming developments. Tone of Secretary’s recent statements on China61 have been very useful in this regard.
Sent Department; repeated AmEmb Canton 89, Shanghai 200, Tokyo 22.
- Neither printed.↩
- On February 9 at a press conference Mr. Acheson stated that “our constant attitude is one of sympathy for not only the Chinese people but for the difficulties of the Government, and our whole attitude is one of sympathy for the Chinese situation.” Department of State, Press Releases, vol. xx (1949).↩