893.00/1–1049: Telegram
Major General Patrick J. Hurley to President Roosevelt 52
Part I
Today I am going into territory held by Communist troops. I have an invitation to confer with the political leaders of the so-called Communist Party and the military leaders of the Communist troops. This will be a short preliminary survey for the purpose of finding a basis of agreement between the National Government and the Communist [Page 667] Party for the unification of all military forces in China. The meeting is to be secret and confidential. I am doing this with the consent, approval and active assistance of the Generalissimo and Wedemeyer.
Part II
The Generalissimo’s eldest son, Chiang Ching-kuo, went to school in Russia; speaks Russian; served in the Russian Army; married a Russian wife with whom he is living and has one son and was a Trotsky Communist before his return to China. General Chiang Ching-kuo has been approached by the Russian Chargé d’Affaires in Chungking with the suggestion that a meeting be arranged between Chiang Kai-shek and Marshal Stalin.53 You will recall that Molotov54 told Harriman, Nelson and myself that Russia desires closer relations with China. Molotov said that opportunity had been given to China for better relations with Russia but China had failed to take any action to improve its relations with Russia. The Generalissimo now desires to establish closer relations with Russia. He said frankly that he does not know whether the Chargé d’Affaires had authority to suggest a meeting or not. He states, however, he will keep me fully advised and if there are any developments along that line I will inform you. The Generalissimo first thought of sending Foreign Minister Soong to Russia as his personal representative. Soong is now busy working with me on the Communist troop matter. The Generalissimo may send his son to Russia as his personal representative but has not made a decision on that subject. The Generalissimo states that he wishes you to be fully informed on every action taken by him pertaining to closer relations with Russia. He expressed a desire to cooperate fully with you. He will keep your Ambassador in Russia informed of Chinese-Russian developments there if you so desire. I thought it proper to give you this information while Ambassador Harriman is in Washington. He and I have discussed Chinese-Russian relations fully and we understand each other. I think that working together we could make effective whatever policy you wish to pursue in regard to Russian-Chinese relations.