711.93/7–2649: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 26—10:45 a. m.]
1617. Embtel 1601, July 24 to Department.43 While much of CCP hostility toward USA traces back to misunderstanding, ignorance and provinciality, we submit that much of its expression stems also from deliberate mendacity and policy. In support we cite new propaganda line being developed by Communist press to effect that USA is responsible for present blockade of Communist ports. As phrased by Peiping radio broadcast July 21, “with American imperialists pulling strings behind the scene, Kmt has imposed naval blockade from mouth of Yangtze to Shantung coast, bombed, strafed areas around Shanghai-Nanking and is now planning organize so-called international volunteers and special air force”. Our whole record regarding Nationalist port closure and bombing shows this new propaganda line to be as unrealistic as Communist injunction contained in Embassy reference telegram to “encourage staff members voluntarily to ask for salary reductions”.
It is significant that in local editorial reported reference telegram, “imperialists” are each time given prideof place over “Kmt reactionaries” in responsibility for economic blockade; furthermore, that economic blockade has been adroitly turned to support economic policy [Page 458] of autarchy for China which at least extreme elements of CCP undoubtedly desire.
Repeated Shanghai 906, Canton 676.
- Not printed.↩