893.20/5–3149: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:55 p. m.]
1159. Assume Department noticed in May 27 Peiping broadcast that “second-line troops of PLA in Manchuria will go into 6-month training program” in order “to lay initial foundation of modern army”, according to Kao Kang, political commissar of northeast military area. “Task of this training program is to train fighters to be politically conscious and in use of modem weapons.”
This is first reference to post-war military plans of CCP which [I] have seen. Significance of statement is underlined by fact that Kao Kang is member of CCP Politburo and reputedly associate of Li Li-san.
While accordance of high priority to military machine is of course characteristic of both Chinese and Communists, both stature of spokesman and fact that first listed task of training program is to make fighters “politically conscious” both seem to indicate that tone of program is more of Communist than Chinese inspiration. If program actually is motivated by Communist psychology, it can only mean that CCP intends to try to follow Soviet practice in maintaining large standing army equipped with modern weapons. Certainly US would not provide these weapons, and USSR has few to spare. Presumably therefore CCP would have to manufacture them itself with all the added sacrifices and difficulties this would mean to Mao’s, vaunted industrialization of China.
Sent Department, repeated Shanghai 635, OffEmb Canton 477.