Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume IX

501.BB/8–1749: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State

New York, August 17, 1949—3:55 p. m.
[Received 5:16 p. m.]

938. 1. Ambassador Tsiang⁶⁶ called this morning at his request …

[Here follows report on proposed action at meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations; see section on this subject in volume I.]

6. White Paper. I repeated to Tsiang assurances I had given during his absence to member his delegation immediately prior to publication White Paper that publication should not be taken as any evidence of hostility towards him or his delegation or towards China and the Chinese people. Tsiang expressed appreciation and said he had studied White Paper very carefully. He had three observations to make: First, he felt that Yalta had been a mistake. Second, he referred to statement he said President made in form of press release in March, 1948,⁶⁷ stating USG⁶⁸ opposed to coalition with Communists. This had been his Government’s position for year or two previously and subject of dispute with USG. Had we taken position against coalition with Communists earlier, many of later difficulties might not have arisen. Third, Tsiang thought Secretary’s transmitting letter to President was unfair and unjust complete denunciation of Nationalist Government, not warranted by White Paper itself and annexes. Commenting on last point, observed he felt he could put finger on sources of much Stuart had reported to Department and he thought these reports in many instances were based on “shady and inaccurate” information. He said he himself would not defend everything Nationalist Government had done; he had come to New York as his Government’s representative to UN because he had wanted to retire from Government in China and go into active opposition to Government but was persuaded to take this UN post as not being involved in partisan politics at home. He thought it was unfair and unjust, however, to apply to Nationalist Government, as he said in effect Secretary had done in his letter of transmittal, yardstick of accomplishment which might fairly be applied to USG or Canadian Government, for example. Nationalist Government, he said, should be measured in comparison with previous Chinese governments. Judged by Chinese standards it was not nearly as bad as Secretary had indicated.

Austin

66. Tingfu F. Tsiang, Chinese representative at the United Nations.
67. See White House No. 6, March 11, 1948; Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. viii, p. 141.
68. U.S. Government.