Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

893.00/3–1149: Telegram

The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State

Canton, March 11, 1949—11 a. m.
[Received March 11—2:17 a. m.]

Cantel 129. Chiang Monlin⁹⁹ believes Canton generals will cooperate with Ho Ying-chin if Ho accepts Premiership. Whoever forms new Govt, Chiang believes that although Ministries will remain Canton, head of each Ministry and an assistant or two will likely establish themselves Nanking so long as peace negotiations continue.

Although circumstances our conversation did not permit going into detail, Chiang insists that for many reasons Communists will not cross Yangtze. He expects peace negotiations to last several months, yet does not rule out possibility Communists will accept territorial arrangement as he is convinced Communists desire some compromise. This may be wishful thinking on his part, but Chiang is high in Kmt circles.

Sent Dept., repeated Nanking 11, Shanghai 77.

Clark

99. Chairman of the Joint Commission for Rural Reconstruction.