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

893.00/1–849

Draft Prepared by the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Sprouse)⁵⁴

Aide-Mémoire

[Here follow the first four paragraphs of this draft which are the same as those of the final text.]

The negotiations between the Chinese Government and the Chinese Communist Party subsequently broke down and the various agreements were not implemented. The United States Government, therefore, after having made every effort to bring peace to China, considered that it had no alternative to withdrawal from its position as an intermediary.

Since that time many Chinese Government officials have sought to place upon the United States a measure of responsibility for developments in China allegedly arising from the negotiations. There has been repeated criticism of the United States Government for what was an honest and sincere effort to assist the Chinese in bringing peace to China through implementation of the fundamental political agreements arising out of the Chinese Government’s negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party immediately after the Japanese surrender.

In the light of the foregoing, it is not believed that any useful purpose would be served by the United States Government’s attempting to act as an intermediary in initiating negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party. Although the United States Government has traditionally maintained close and friendly relations with the Government of the Republic of China and the people of the United States have always manifested a sympathetic interest in and genuine friendship for the people of China, the United States Government holds the view that the solution of China’s problems is one that must and can be reached only by the Chinese themselves.

Washington, [undated.]

54. Initialed by Mr. Butterworth and “cleared in substance” with the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Kennan). Notation added by Mr. Sprouse: “Read by Mr. Lovett to the President on January 10, 1949. The President approved, subject to the deletion of two sentences.” For text as sent after revisions, see telegram No. 43, January 12, 7 p. m., to the Ambassador in China, p. 41.