893.00/1–1149: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 11—4:09 p. m.]
114. While French are sounding out Soviets as well as British and ourselves on Chinese mediation proposal (my 105, January 10), Foreign Office informs us approach to Soviets is perfunctory and consists only of having French Embassy Moscow ask Kremlin for indication of Soviet views. While Foreign Office does not expect favorable reply from Moscow in view of their reports that Nanking Government’s approaches to Chinese Communists have gone without response except for sarcastic statements on Communist radio, French inclined to view that something should be done in slim hope of slowing up Red control of South China. (In this they are of course motivated by fear of effect on Indochina). Foreign Office also seems to expect negative reaction from US and British. (In this connection British Embassy has just shown us instructions from London to British Embassy Washington indicating British think it would be mistake to accept Chinese proposal.)
Sent Department 114, repeated London 28, Moscow 11, Nanking 32.