893.00/1–549: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai ( Cabot ) to the Secretary of State

27. Local press reports Shanghai Self-Help and National Salvation Association sent identical telegrams January 4 to Central Govt and CCP headquarters Yenan, appealing for termination hostilities and calling on both sides to send delegates to Shanghai to “begin sincere consultations under the unbiased observation of the Chinese people and of representatives of friendly nations, so that all outstanding issues may be settled by political means”. General purport this same as that of telegrams sent by Shanghai City Council preceding day (remytel to Dept 22, 5th, repeated to Nanking 18). Telegrams appear to be part of general peace offensive on part of C–C clique controlled [Page 12] forces Shanghai for purpose throwing onus on Communists if latter refuse comply with what is meant to appear to be overwhelming popular demand for peace based on terms in Gimo’s30 New Year declaration.31

Sent Dept 27, pouched Nanking.

Cabot
  1. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China.
  2. In telegram No. 34, January 6, 8 a. m., the Consul General at Shanghai reported similar telegrams sent by business, labor, and educational organizations (893.00/1–649).