893.00/14661: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 3—10:55 a.m.]
86. Reference last substantive paragraph of my 83, March 3, 9 a.m.62
1. The Embassy is informed that the Chinese Communist delegates, numbering seven in all, failed to attend the March 2 and 3 sessions of the People’s Political Council and that they have, with the approval of the Communist authorities at Yenan, presented 12 conditions to the Council for acceptance failing which they will not participate in the meetings. These conditions include (1) discontinuance of military attacks against Communist forces; (2) cessation of pressure against and recognition of Chinese Communist Party; (3) recognition of legal status of Shensi border area; (4) maintenance of status quo in existing military areas; (5) permit the Communists to organize a second army corps; (6) release Yeh Ting63 and other Communists who were detained in South Anhwei and grant solatia to families of Communists losing lives in clash and return arms seized; (7) permit delegates of the Communist Party to be appointed to the presidium of the People’s Political Council. It is reported that the foregoing demands have been ignored and the consensus of informed observers is that the Government will not entertain such demands. The Council is reported on March 2 by an unanimous vote to have approved Chiang Kai-shek’s statement of January 27 (Embassy’s telegram 46, January 29) and despatch 772, February 6.64
Chinese Communist sources in Chungking report the occurrence in recent days of clashes in Northern Anhwei, Central Shensi, between military forces of China and the Communists, but Government confirmation is lacking.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Peiping.