893.001 Chiang Kai-shek/1–449: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 4—2:55 p. m.]
17. President Chiang Kai-shek’s New Year’s Day address was prominently reported by all Nanking vernacular papers. Immediately following Generalissimo’s speech, talk of peace tendencies began to predominate in press. Following is summary of news and editorial comment appearing in Nanking papers up to and including January 3.
[Page 7]Local tabloid reported that Chang Chih-chung had approached US and USSR Embassies to negotiate with Communists while official Kmt and pro-Government press firmly denied that either Embassy had been approached in an official capacity. Several tabloids also feature return to Nanking of Shao Li-tze, former Ambassador to USSR, and current advocator of peace at request of Sun Fo, predicting that he will confer with Chang Chih-chung on reopening peace negotiations. Official Kmt organ, however, prominently asserted Communists do not want peace as evidenced by their New Year’s Day declaration but local tabloids argue Communist statement prepared before Generalissimo’s speech delivered and eagerly await Communist reaction.
Official Kmt organ editorially warned against misinterpreting Generalissimo’s speech as peace offer, recalling that “at start of Communist rebellion Chiang Kai-shek repeatedly invited Mao Tze-tung to Chungking to help work out a peace settlement”. Paper added, “but Communists, directed by foreign masters and bent on ruining China, closed door to peace talks”. People were urged to make up their minds to fight to finish and strengthen military power in order [to] force Communists to sincerely agree to political settlement. Pointing put that desire for peace cannot be one-sided, paper stressed danger of over-optimism and firmly asserted “willingness to resume peace talks with Communists does not mean Government is unable to continue fight nor that it is prepared to give up duty of saving nation”.
Army organ lauded President’s courage and unselfish attitude in offering resume peace talks “in order alleviate suffering of people”. Paper expressed identical views of official party organ regarding government’s ability to carry on war and appealed to people for added cooperation. C–C organ praised President’s unconcern for his own future status, adding, “great statesmen are not concerned with their own positions but only with future of nation and welfare of people”. Arguing that war is only a means to attain peace, paper felt there should be no reason for refusing peace negotiations “if Communists are sincerely desirous of peace”. However, this organ insisted on preservation national independence, sovereignty and democratic form of government as only conditions for peace, stating “unconditional peace with Communists would mean surrender and loss of national independence”. Other comment followed same line, placing full responsibility for peace or war on Communists and evincing some concern that Communists would not take Government’s offer of peace negotiations seriously.
Sent Department 17, repeated Shanghai 9.