123 Stuart, J. Leighton: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 26—12:38 p. m.]
1625. I talked one and half hours July 25 with Huang Hua. Our personal relations were cordial as usual, but I came away with feeling of discomfiture. His Communist mind is impermeable to argument and even to facts.
I began With “shop guarantee” issue, expressing appreciation of special treatment accorded me and explaining at length views of my Government. He described reasons for this provisional arrangement and admitted that Communists had not thought of peculiar problems affecting diplomatic personnel. He implied that he might give matter further consideration (see Deptel 876, July 24 to Nanking). I said that before my departure it would be helpful to know whether CCP33 wished our consulates closed and nationals withdrawn, stating that incessant denunciation of our “imperialism” and experiences of individuals especially in Shanghai had led many Americans to ask this question. He quoted Mao’s June 15 speech as evidence that Americans and others who stay in China on Mao’s terms would be welcome.
He reviewed again CCP grievances against USA, chiefly for aiding and continuing recognize Chiang Government. I countered by enlarging as previously on American desire for peace and fear of aggression and war springing from CCP-avowed advocacy of world revolution. There was nothing new in any of this and I doubt if [Page 802] either one changed other’s opinions. When he charged USA as being behind Chiang-Quirino34–S. Rhee alliance,35 I referred to explicit denials of State Department. He retorted that anyhow they were all our protégés. I pointed out in what sense this was true of each one, and asked what hope there was of better relations when CCP surmises were treated as facts.
As to future he said that best American policy would be to keep hands off China, that any merchant, peasant, student would agree to this. He said China could face her industrial and other problems unaided. He was also quite unrealistic in describing gains thus far in support of the People’s Government by rural farmers, urban workers, small-scale capitalists and intellectuals.
Sent Department 1625, repeated Shanghai 909, Canton 680.
- Chinese Communist Party.↩
- President Elpidio Quirino of the Philippines.↩
- For documentation on a proposed Pacific pact, see vol. vii, Part 2, pp. 1115 ff.↩