893.00/1–2549: Telegram

The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State

205. Following is summary North Shensi broadcast January 23:

Fifty-five so-called democratic figures headed by Marshal Li Chi-shen52 have arrived in liberated areas and issued statement on current situation on January 22. “Statement advocates relentless smashing of hypocritical peace offensive launched by Chiang Kai-shek and American [Page 81] imperialists and supports eight peace terms raised by Chairman Mao Tse-tung of CCP53 in his January 14 statement.”

Following is summary of statement entitled “Our Opinion on Current Situation”:

“We have now successively arrived in liberated areas” and “we wish, united under the leadership of CCP, to exert our full efforts in course of people’s liberation war to work together for swift success of Chinese people’s democratic revolution, and early realization of independent, free, peaceful and happy new China.”

We are greatly impressed by “atmosphere of democracy and freedom and vibrant, forward-moving spirit” in liberated areas and particularly by examples set by members of CCP.

During past 3 months people’s liberation army has wiped out over one million Kmt54 troops, liberated all Manchuria and nearly all North and Central China. Military offensives now point to south of Yangtze. “Beyond doubt, China will obtain full liberation in 1949.”

Since reactionary Kmt bloc under wing of American imperialism is about to crumble into dust, it is changing its tricks and attempting to carry out political plots to drag out its existence. “As far back as when troops of Chiang Kai-shek began to collapse on northern front, American imperialism had launched its conspiratorial activities, employing venomous, double-edged scheme of disrupting Chinese revolution. On one hand they scheme to foment opposition within revolutionary camp, hoping to block or slow down revolutionary advance. On other hand, they incite reactionary Nanking bloc to launch peace offensive so as to win time for remnants of counter-revolutionary forces to make final desperate struggle south of Yangtze or in border provinces. We should be on guard against this.”

“Today we must vigorously declare our belief: We hold that revolution must be carried through to very end. There is no possibility for compromise or conciliation between revolution and counterrevolution. We should bear well in mind bitter lessons of repeated defeat since 1911 revolution. Chinese people’s revolution is today directed against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism. These are greatest enemies obstructing realization of independence, democracy, freedom and happiness for China. If they are not thoroughly swept away, no genuine peace in fact as well as aim can be realized.”

“Therefore, we must relentlessly smash hypocritical peace offensive instigated by Chiang Kai-shek and American imperialism. Even more, we must raise our vigilance within our people’s democratic camp, in our ranks order march in step, strengthen our solidarity to prevent infiltration counter-revolutionary forces. People’s democratic dictatorship should embrace representatives of broadest strata of people, but cannot include germs of counter-revolution. It should bring full freedom to greatest majority of people, but cannot give handful of reactionaries freedom to oppose people. Therefore, we firmly believe that people throughout entire country who are really striving for democratic revolution should exert their efforts together so that there [Page 82] is no room for opposition foothold within people’s democratic camp or for existence of so-called middle road.” Peace offensive contained in Chiang Kai-shek’s New Year’s Day broadcast is simply a fraud. With his conditions, regime of Chiang Kai-shek dynasty headed by four families would rule in unbroken line for generations. However, we believe that our Chinese people will surely not be cheated by reactionary plots of Chiang Kai-shek and Americans. Chiang’s peace offensive should be dealt with without compassion. “If anyone today slovenly gives in by indulging enemy so that great revolutionary case collapses on threshold of victory, he becomes a criminal against Chinese revolution and against nation.”

“But we are very happy and elated in having read recent statement on current situation issued by Mao Tse-tung to carry revolution through to very end and shatter peace offensive. He keenly, firmly, comprehensively and sternly exposed plots of Chiang Kai-shek-American bloc and raised eight conditions for genuine people’s democratic peace. We thoroughly support these eight conditions. Beyond all doubt common will of people of whole country is reflected here.”

“Let us repeat these conditions in another form:

“We [War?] criminals must be tried and punished; bogus constitution and bogus legitimacy of traditional institutions must be abolished; all reactionary armies must be remolded in accordance with democratic principles; bureaucratic capital must be confiscated; agrarian system must be reformed; treaties of national betrayal must be annulled; all power of reactionary Nanking Government and all its levels of government must be taken over; new political consultative conference soon to be convoked and democratic coalition government soon to be established must refuse participation by reactionary elements.

“To sum up: People’s revolution must be carried to very end. Day on which revolution is carried to very end is day of advent of genuine peace and complete liberation. Strength of liberated people is matchless. Look at our friend and neighbor, Soviet Union; after only 32 years of construction it has become strongest fortress of peace in whole world. We people of China are double people of Soviet Union in number and have in addition favorable conditions. We dare to believe that after we have smashed reactionary government we can in shorter time construct peaceful, democratic free new China. Bright perspective lies before us. We should exert our efforts in unison. [”]

Sent Department 205, repeated Shanghai 96, Moscow.

Stuart
  1. Chairman of the Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee (KmtRC).
  2. Chinese Communist Party.
  3. Kuomintang (Nationalist Party).