893.00/1–1049
Memorandum of Conversation57
The initial conference with the Communist officials was held today. Present were Mao Tze-tung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, General Chu Teh, Commanding General of the Chinese Communist Forces, Chow En-lai, Member and Asst. Chairman of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Chen Chia-Kang, Secretary to Chow En-Lai, and Yu Kwang-sen, newspaperman who made it clear that he was not there as a newspaperman but as a friend to try and make everything clear to both sides, for the Communists.
Also present were General Hurley, Colonel Barrett, Lt. Eng, who acted as interpreter, and Sgt. Smith.
The conference started about 10:10 AM and continued until about 11:30 AM.
General Hurley first assured Chairman Mao that if there was anything said on which he did not want notes taken it was agreeable to him that no notes be taken. General Hurley also said that everything said in the conferences was confidential so that publicity would not destroy the conferences. General Hurley also said that any of the persons present who understood both English and Chinese were at liberty at any time to interrupt the conferences if there was any difficulty about what Lt. Eng was translating. The main purpose of the meeting was that both sides should have a clear understanding of what was said.
General Hurley said that President Roosevelt asked him to come to the Communists as his personal representative to discuss matters pertaining to China. General Hurley said that he came also with the consent and approval of Chiang Kai-shek the Generalissimo of the Chinese National Army.
General Hurley said that in the beginning he would like to have it understood that the United States does not desire to participate in the internal politics of China. General Hurley said the United States is the friend of China. The United States believes in democracy; China believes in democracy. Both the United States and China have [Page 675] a common enemy and General Hurley said lie had come to discuss how we can defeat the common enemy of democracy.
General Hurley said that in behalf of himself, so that Chairman Mao and General Chu can understand his personal attitude, he would like it known that he is a believer in democracy and government of the people, by the people and for the people.
General Hurley said we should encourage the development of democratic processes in China.
General Hurley said his mission is to attempt to bring about a unification of the Chinese military forces for the defeat of Japan in cooperation with the United States.
General Hurley said he has talked at length on this subject with the Generalissimo. The Generalissimo has said to General Hurley that it is his desire to have an understanding with the Communist Party and to legalize the existence of the Party and recognize it as an institution in China.
General Hurley said the Generalissimo has offered to legalize the existence of the Communist Party and all other political parties in China. In addition, the Generalissimo has said that he will consider with the Communists the placing of Communists on the Supreme War Council of China.
General Hurley said the Generalissimo recognizes the necessity of having a unification of military forces on an equitable free basis where the Communist troops will receive equal treatment with the other troops.
(General Hurley produces the paper with the five points on it58 and gives it to Lt. Eng.)
What General Hurley is about to submit now so that all the matters will be discussed is only a brief outline of the basis to which President Chiang Kai-shek will agree with Chairman Mao and General Chu. General Hurley said he wants them to understand that this is not complete and they may suggest to him the manner in which they would like additions or changes but he would like now if you (Lt. Eng, the translator) would translate it and let the Chairman and his people study it because we have worked on it diligently to get a basis on which the Americans can talk with honesty to both parties.
(Lt. Eng reads the five points, copy attached, in both Chinese and American.)
Chairman Mao wanted to know whose idea the five points were. General Hurley replied that it was his idea, the basis was his idea, but it had been worked on by all of us. General Hurley explained that these five points were just a basis for discussion and not a “take it or [Page 676] leave it” document. General Hurley wanted to talk on a frank, open basis with Chair[man] Mao and General Chu.
Colonel Barrett said he believed that Chairman Mao wanted to know if the Generalissimo has agreed to all points presented.
General Hurley replied that the Generalissimo had agreed.
(There was a discussion between the Chinese, Col. Barrett and Lt. Eng.)
Colonel Barrett explained that this was a discussion so that there would be no misunderstanding in the minds of Chairman Mao and General Chu as to what the word “tentative” (used in the discussion) meant. Yu Kwang-sen explained that he wanted Chairman Mao and General Chu to understand that “tentative” did not mean “temporary”.
General Hurley said that this is my own idea. General Hurley explained that his whole purpose was to get a unification of China to defeat Japan and more than that General Hurley said he hoped that unification would make China free and would prevent a civil war and if we have any weight in bringing about an understanding between these gentlemen that will make China happy and peaceful and permit her to have proper reconstruction on a democratic and free basis after the war, we will be happy.
General Hurley stated that the further idea is that my President, Franklin Roosevelt, has been very anxious for China to assume a place in the world as one of the four great powers, China, Russia, Britain and the United States.
General Hurley said that cannot be accomplished with a divided China, filled with dissentations [dissention] and civil war. Therefore, we speak to the Communists and the Kuomintang not as parties but as patriotic Chinese.
General Hurley said we have no desire, America has no desire, to have any future control over China. General Hurley said all we wish is China’s friendship and its good will and freedom and liberty and union for China like we enjoy in the United States.
General Hurley said we have no desire to dictate to China what her ideologies or her economic policies shall be. China chooses her own. We would like for China to adopt her economic policies through economic processes and the will of the people rather than by bloodshed and strife but we want China to adopt her own policies.
General Hurley said that in the beginning of his conversations with the Generalissimo he had understood that the Generalissimo was very violently opposed to the Communists. General Hurley found, however, that he is very desirous of peace and unity in China and he believed the Communists are really trying patriotically to uplift the [Page 677] welfare of the Common people and he also wishes the welfare of the Common people.
General Hurley said that the Generalissimo had even expressed a desire of meeting personally with Chairman Mao and they could leave the impression before the world and before China that both of them wish the welfare of the common people of China and wish to prevent civil strife, dissention and civil war.
General Hurley said he was pleased that Mr. Chiang Kai-shek had said that his life is devoted to keeping China together as a united nation and promoting the common welfare of the people of China. General Hurley said he believed that is also what Chairman Mao stands for.
General Hurley said that if these gentlemen could find a basis on which they can agree with Mr. Chiang Kai-shek for an agreement for the unification of China we will be happy to go along with them.
General Hurley said that he is of the belief that both men, Chairman Mao and Mr. Chiang Kai-shek are working for the benefit of China and we will work with them for the purpose of winning the war.
General Hurley said he had given enough for these gentlemen to work among themselves this working [morning?] and he would leave them, with their permission, leaving them the five points to have translated and after they understood it fully they could get together for another conference. General Hurley said, however, he would like to leave them with the impression that Mr. Chiang Kai-shek has impressed General Hurley as being really a patriotic Chinese and he has also the same impression of Chairman Mao and General Hurley would be happy to get a basis of an honest, lasting agreement where you could have every democratic processes in China.
Colonel Barrett said to Lt. Eng that General Hurley has expressed the opinion that Chairman Mao is a sincere patriot. Therefore, General Hurley feels there should be a possibility of reaching an agreement as both Chairman Mao and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek are both working for an agreement that would permit democracy for the Chinese People.
Chairman Mao said he wished to thank General Hurley for coming to China to help in uniting China to fight Japan. The idea is how to unite the forces in China and the United States forces for the speedy defeat of Japan and the reconstruction of China. That is the fundamental idea.
(At this point all persons present left the conference room and there was a lot of talk about coming to dinner tonight and having some entertainment after dinner. Chairman Mao will set a time for the next conference and let General Hurley know.)