146. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China1
1147. 1. We are disturbed, although not particularly surprised, by report in FCT 92182 that GRC may be gearing up propaganda campaign in US to “counter current trend of appeasement in US toward Communist China.”
2. Judging by minimal impact of Madame Chiang’s efforts to rouse American audiences, we doubt that GRC campaign here is likely to accomplish desired objectives. On contrary, it could work to GRC disadvantage by souring even present support of current US policy on China, particularly as result of concerted effort to attack personalities involved in current public discussion of China policy.
3. We are therefore anxious to quietly discourage GRC from propaganda effort at its incipience rather than having to deal with it in more public fashion at a later stage. We realize that GRC will not easily be deterred from making direct pitch to US public and that you are inhibited from using information on special group contained in TDCS report. However, we wonder whether problem cannot be discreetly discussed with key personalities in more general terms, stressing thesis propounded [Page 297] by FonMin Shen (FCT 9219)3 that US policy not changed, but warning that climate of opinion in US nevertheless changed to extent that any concerted campaign by GRC to influence American public opinion could well prove counterproductive to its interests.4
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 1 CHICOM-US. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Sneider; cleared by Albert L. Seligmann of INR/RFE/NA and in draft by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs William J. Jorden, Dean, and Fearey; and approved by Bundy.↩
- Not found.↩
- Not found.↩
- Hummel reported in telegram 1259 from Taipei, May 11, that he had taken the matter up privately with Chiang Ching-kuo and Vice Foreign Minister Sampson Shen, both of whom had expressed agreement. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 1 CHICOM-US)↩