123 Stuart, J. Leighton: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 30—5:38 a. m.]
1410. Huang Hua called on me by appointment June 28. He reported that he had received message from Mao Tse-tung and Chou En-lai assuring me that they would welcome me to Peiping if I wished to visit Yenching University. Background of this suggestion is as follows:
In early June Philip Fugh, in one of his conversations with Huang, asked casually, and not under instructions from me, if it would be possible for me to travel to Peiping to visit my old University as had been my habit in previous years on my birthday and Commencement. At that time Huang made no comment. However, 2 weeks later, June 18 to be precise, in discussing my return to Washington for consultation, Huang himself raised question with Fugh of whether time permitted my making trip to Peiping. Fugh made no commitment, commenting only that he himself had made this suggestion 2 weeks earlier. Neither Fugh nor I followed up this suggestion but apparently Huang did. Present message (almost an invitation) is reply.
Regardless whether initiation this suggestion is considered [by] Peiping to have come from me or from Communists, I can only regard Huang’s message as veiled invitation from Mao and Chou to talk with them while ostensibly visiting Yenching. To accept would undoubtedly be gratifying to them, would give me chance to describe American policy; its anxieties regarding Communism and world revolution; its desires for China’s future; and would enable me to carry to Washington most authoritative information regarding CCP intentions. Such trip would be step toward better mutual understanding and should strengthen more liberal anti-Soviet element in CCP. It would provide unique opportunity for American official to talk to top Chinese Communists in informal manner which may not again present itself. It would be imaginative, adventurous indication of US open-minded attitude towards changing political trends in China and would probably have beneficial effect on future Sino-American relations.
[Page 767]On negative side, trip to Peiping before my return to US on consultation would undoubtedly start rumors and speculations in China and might conceivably embarrass Department because of American criticism. It would probably be misunderstood by my colleagues in Diplomatic Corps who might feel that US representative was first to break united front policy which we have sponsored toward Communist regime and might prove beginning of trek of chiefs of mission to Peiping on one pretext or another. Trip to Peiping at this time invariably suggests idea of making similar one to Canton before my return to US.
While visiting both capitals might effectively dramatize American interest in Chinese people as a whole, it might also appear as peacemaking gesture, unwarranted interference in China’s internal affairs, and would probably be misunderstood by Chinese Communists, thus undoing any beneficial effects of visit north. Finally, trip of US Ambassador to Peiping at this time would enhance greatly prestige, national and international, of Chinese Communists and Mao himself and in a sense would be second step on our part (first having been my remaining Nanking) toward recognition Communist regime.
I received clear impression that Mao, Chou and Huang are very much hoping that I make this trip, whatever their motives. I, of course, gave Huang no answer to Mao’s message, replying that, while I enjoyed going back to Yenching, this year had assumed it would be out of question, that I had already delayed longer than intended my departure for Washington; that travel on as yet incompletely restored railway line to Peiping might be taxing for “feeble old man”, et cetera. Question of using my airplane was raised. Huang objected on ground danger from Communists’ anti-aircraft batteries; that it would take couple days at least to give proper instructions and that there would always be some risk. He continued Peiping trip can now be made in less than 3 days by train, adding that all facilities of railway would be put at my disposal. I could, if thought desirable, make airplane travel condition to visit Peiping and it is not to be excluded that permission would be granted. There is consideration that prestige of travel Peiping my own plane would somewhat offset negative features outlined above.
I have made this rather full statement of case for Department’s consideration and decision. I am, of course, ready to make journey by either means should Department consider it desirable, and should be grateful for instructions earliest and nature of reply to Huang.
Sent Department, repeated Shanghai 780, OffEmb Canton 594, Peiping 243.