893.00/14780
The Chinese Embassy to the Department of State 26
Translation of Telegram to Ambassador Hu, From the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chungking, July 21st, 1941
In September, 1937, the Chinese Communist Party made a declaration to the effect that thenceforth the Chinese Communists would support the Central Government, adhere to the Three Peoples’ Principle of the Kuomintang and obey the orders of the National Military Council in joint resistance against Japan. This declaration was reaffirmed after the outbreak of war between Germany and Soviet Russia.27
Recently, however, the Communist forces have again attacked the Government troops in Shantung under the command of General Yu Hsueh-chung, and also attacked Government units stationed in the region of Chung-tiao-shan (Shansi). In view of the possibility of Japan’s pushing northward against Soviet Russia, or invading Yunnan in a westward drive, the Chinese High Command feels strongly that not only should every effort be made to avoid friction between the Government and Communist troops, but that co-operation between them should be strengthened in order to present a unified front against external aggression. It is the earnest hope of the Government that the force of public opinion will be sufficient to awaken the Communists to the necessity of abandoning their destructive course of action. The Central Government has no intention whatsoever of taking punitive measures against the Communists.