893.00/3–2249: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

628. Following our study of such CCP pronouncements as Mao Tse-tung’s article commemorating October revolution and Liu Shao-chi’s41 article on “nationalism and internationalism” last November, we had concluded as reported that time that CCP, at least verbally, had left undone little to subordinate Chinese national interests to those of USSR. However, with North Shensi broadcast March 18 (repeated March 19 for emphasis) CCP advanced its satellite foreign policy still further by announcing “Chinese people cannot but regard [Page 193] leaders of war provocateurs, American imperialist bellicose elements, as their mortal foes and cannot but regard leaders of world anti-imperialist front, great socialist state, Soviet Union, as their comrades in arms, from first to last”.

Whole tone of broadcast is that CCP wholeheartedly and optimistically backs Soviet “struggle for peace” but that if worst comes to worst, CCP will enter war alongside USSR. At risk of reading falsely between lines, we do note, however, that (1) CCP commitment to fight could have been more clearly and irrevocably expressed than it was, and (2) it is conditioned upon USSR accepting “strong and independent China as good friend and ally”. We do not derive much cheer from these observations, however, since (1) CCP commitment is no more indirect than statements of Thorez and Togliatti,42 serving similar purpose; and (2) Soviets—particularly after their lesson in Yugoslavia—will doubtless display sufficient vision and tolerance in their foreign policy to avoid offending sensibilities of Chinese Communists, at least at present stage of history. Because of this as well as timing of broadcast, our convictions are strengthened that Chinese Communists are wittingly or unwittingly tools of Soviet expansion and as such are constitutionally incapable of objective international attitude toward US.

This reaffirmation of loyalty to USSR and world Communism on three important grounds seems far more Communist than Chinese. First, except for one passing reference to “Kmt reactionary government”, principal enemy of CCP, US was sole target of attack. Second, it so debases Chinese national interests as to rationalize Soviet occupation of Dairen and Port Arthur as “severe blows to imperialist aggression in Far East and far-reaching guarantees of interest of Chinese people against aggression”. Third, its timing with North Atlantic treaty,43 which is certainly not of immediate consequence to China’s struggle, betrays same kind of loyalty to Moscow and disregard of Chinese interest that prompted Mao Tse-tung in 1942 to urge concentration of united nations’ efforts against Germany rather than Japan.

We fear this broadcast indicates Chinese Communists may be falling into same web of self-deception that cost Nazis and Fascists so dearly and which is now attracting Communists everywhere, namely that America is weak. Chinese Communists have long inveighed against our principles and good intentions. But now, for first time, they raise question of our power, saying “Chinese people see in American imperialism a paper tiger” and that “if only peace-loving forces unite [Page 194] in struggle and do not commit misjudging, American imperialism is sure to be vanquished”. If CCP-controlled press and theoreticians succeed in cultivating this auto-intoxication, it will prove one more obstacle to CCP objective appraisal of international scene and China’s proper place therein.

We consider this broadcast major statement of public policy, albeit described as “New China News Agency editorial”. It is most disturbing in its implications for US and ominous for our continuing efforts to reach modus vivendi with Communists.

Sent Department 628; repeated Canton 181; Shanghai 286; Moscow 22.

Stuart
  1. Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
  2. Maurice Thorez and Palmiro Togliatti, leaders of the French and Italian Communist Parties, respectively.
  3. Signed at Washington, April 4, 1949; for text, see Department of State Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 1964, or 63 Stat. (pt. 2) 2241.