893.00/4–249: Telegram
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:46 p. m.]
Cantel 188. Wu Tieh-cheng confirmed press report CEC action regarding directive peace delegate (Cantel 186, April 2,76 repeated Nanking 172, Shanghai 125). A small secret subcommittee of CEC on which Wu may serve is to be established in Nanking to remain in daily contact with negotiators and see that no agreement is reached that is unsatisfactory to CEC. It will also be responsibility this secret subcommittee to assure that all points of agreement with Communists have support various regional elements now Communist China.
Wu is not sanguine success peace negotiations. He says that [when] Shao Li-tse and W. W. Yen were in Shihchiachuang, Chou En-lai rejected summarily any suggestions either of territorial arrangement or federation, insisting unwaveringly on coalition to be composed third Communists, third Kmt purged of reactionary element, and third others who would of course be Communist fellow-travellers. Such proposal, Wu said, would of course be unacceptable.
In strictest confidence he said Li Tsung-jen in last few days had asked Roschin, Soviet Ambassador, come Nanking with idea he could be of assistance in peace negotiations. Wu said he believes (and he implied and other leaders agreed) that with signing of North Atlantic [Page 223] Pact,77 Soviets would prevent Communists from crossing Yangtze if they did, in fact, control Communist action. Soviets would not wish, he said, to risk conflict with North Atlantic powers which might arise out of possible Chinese Communist action in southeast Asia. How they reached that conclusion was unexplained, but he came back to point twice so idea must be in their minds. It may also have something to do with desire that Roschin return Nanking although invitation may be merely another of Li’s efforts to convince everyone his sincere desire for peace.
Wu says negotiators are not taking counter-proposals to Mao’s eight points, but will be guided by CEC directives. He does not anticipate that Communists will agree with Nationalists’ demand for cease-fire during negotiations, but that fact of itself should not result in failure negotiations. He expects negotiations to break down over character coalition and reorganization military force, on both of which he said positions appear irreconcilable. He anticipates Communists will insist on assured control of vote, which would mean death warrant of those continuing oppose communism and would be therefore unacceptable Nationalist negotiators.
Wu insists that seat of Government remains Canton where all work will be done and that galaxy of Ministers and Political Vice Ministers in Nanking is only window dressing to impress Communists and people of sincerity Government in search of peace.
Sent Department; repeated Nanking 174, Shanghai 127, pouched Kunming, Chungking, Hankow, Peiping.