Office of the Historian

893.00/6–1649: Telegram

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

Nanking, June 16, 1949—1 p. m.
[Received June 16—5:09 a. m.]

1300. [To Shanghai:] Reftel 2215 to Department.33 Suggest you continue follow closely as possible whole range Communist printed material distributed Shanghai to determine whether, as compared other parts China, Communists there are playing down USSR inspiration and example. Such action, presumably out of deference to Western opinion, would seem to conflict with primary objective of properly indoctrinating China’s large concentration of urban proletariat, group which Communists have stated they henceforth intend use as principal base for revolutionary activities of party. If in Shanghai propaganda Communists actually do minimize USSR connection, it would be interesting commentary on importance they attach to western opinion.

In Nanking fact that Communists look to Moscow for inspiration and example has been quite apparent in vernacular press. In addition to foreign news being almost exclusively from Tass and therefore faithfully presenting Kremlin view of world affairs, Hsin Huo Jih Pao in past month has published some 20 articles by Soviet writers ranging from Lenin’s “Competition in Forming Organizations”, [Page 387] Kalinin’s34 “How Youth Should Acquire Knowledge”, and Zhdanov’s35 “Report on Current Situation” to articles on “order and discipline in Soviet factories” and “economical use of metals”. Hsin Hua bookstore also carries considerable range of translations of Soviet political, economic and literary works as well as translations of Soviet political, economic and literary works as well as translations of American and English writers currently acceptable in USSR such as Steinbeck, Dickens and Jack London. We would be interested in learning of significant departures from this pattern in Shanghai.

Sent Shanghai 707; repeated Department, OffEmb Canton 541.

Stuart
  1. June 11, 2 p. m., from the Consul General at Shanghai, p. 381.↩
  2. The late M. I. Kalinin, President of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union.↩
  3. The late Lt. Gen. A. A. Zhdanov, Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union at the time of his death in 1948.↩