740.00119PW/2–2846
The Chargé in China (Robertson) to
the Secretary of State
No. 1166
Chungking, February 28, 1946.
[Received March
15.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s
telegram number 357 dated February 23, 1946 and to enclose for the
information of the Department the full text of a press release with
regard to recent developments in Manchuria issued at Yenan on February
14, 1946 by the spokesman of the Central Committee of the Chinese
Communist Party.
The release includes a statement that there exists in Manchuria a local
force of approximately 300,000 men, styled the Manchuria Joint
Democratic Army, which is said to have been organized by cadres from the
Communist Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies. Local Communist sources
state that this Army is a loosely knit guerilla organization composed of
democratic Manchurian elements interested in fostering local
self-government; they also state, however, that most of the officer
personnel and directing agencies are Communists. In this latter
connection it is interesting to note in the release that for the first
time the Communists refer to Chang Hsueh-shih, brother of Marshal Chang
Hsueh-liang,57 as an Eighth Route Army
general.
If the statement in the release with regard to numerical strength can be
relied upon, it would indicate truly remarkable Communist expansion in
Manchuria since the collapse of Japan. During the winter of 1944–45,
Secretary Raymond P. Ludden, now serving at the Embassy, was informed by
senior field commanders in the Shansi-Suiyuan and Shansi-Chahar-Hopei
Communist Base Areas that Communist expansion into Manchuria was
impossible at that time. These commanders stated that the Japanese had
been in effective occupation for such an extended period and had
developed the “protected village” and “pao chia”
systems so extensively that Communist operations were too
[Page 449]
difficult. The limited areas
of southwestern Liaoning and southern Jehol in which Communist units
were operating at that time were for all practical purposes considered
as parts of eastern Hopei.
It will be noted that the Communist release recognizes the right of the
Central Government to reestablish Chinese sovereignty in Manchuria and
reiterates that restrictions on troop movements under the truce
agreement58 do not apply to Central
Government forces proceeding to Manchuria. In general the release does
not go beyond previous Communist claims for recognition of democratic
local self-government in liberated areas and is not bellicose in tone.
Its issuance, however, in the face of increasing nationwide expression
of bewilderment at and distrust of ultimate Russian intentions in
Manchuria appears to have been inept and unfortunate.
The relationship of the Manchuria Democratic Joint Army to Russian
occupation forces is unknown, but the Communist release has been
accepted in many quarters as evidence of Chinese Communist-Soviet
collusion in Manchuria. There is no proof that such collusion exists and
the Communist delegation in Chungking appears considerably chagrined
with regard to reaction to it in the United States as well as China.
General Chou En-lai and other Communists here appear genuinely anxious
that Russian withdrawal from the northeast be effected without
delay.
Any ulterior motives for the Communist press release at this time are
difficult to establish and it may be related to developments in
Manchuria about which the Embassy has no information, but on the surface
at least it seems to be a wordy Communist restatement of their position
that the establishment of a Kuomintang monopoly of power in Manchuria
will be unwelcome to the Communists.
In any event the release has created widespread disapproval of and
attacks on Communist policy in the democratic and liberal press as well
as in Kuomintang organs. There is ample reason to believe, however, that
the present obscure Manchurian situation, coupled with the Communist
release, has been made use of by disgruntled rightist elements of the
Kuomintang, opposed to full implementation of the resolutions adopted by
the People’s Consultation Conference on January 31, 1946 and to drastic
military reorganization, to inject into the scene a national security
issue in order to divert attention from the urgent necessity for
immediate internal reforms.
In fairness to the Communists it must be pointed out that during the past
few months their willingness to cooperate with all parties and groups
and their evident trust in American efforts to advise and assist
[Page 450]
in the solution of Chinese
administrative and military problems leaves little to be desired.
Respectfully yours,
For the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim
Robert L. Smyth
Counselor of
Embassy
[Enclosure]
Press Release Issued by Spokesman of Central
Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
Yenan, February 14, 1946:—
The spokesman of the central committee of the Chinese Communist Party
made the following statement about the general conditions, armed
forces and policy of the Chinese Communist Party in Manchuria when
interviewed by our correspondent today:
Question: What are the present general conditions in Manchuria?
Answer: After the Red Army entered Manchuria and annihilated Japs and
puppets, sovereignty over the Manchuria has been restored to China.
The National Government has sent armies and officials to take over
these provinces and the national disgrace of the past fourteen years
has been wiped out. But owing to the fourteen years of the ruthless
Jap rule people’s life in Manchuria, which were richest in natural
resources and most developed in industries and mining, is hard. The
industries, commerce and finance have more or less become stagnant
or chaotic. The most urgent needs of the people are therefore
cleaning up of remnants puppet and Jap forces and establishment of
peace and order to restore and develop the economic reconstruction
on the foundation of broad democracy. The key issue of this problem
hinges on how Kuomintang troops and administrative officials carry
out the peaceful democratic cooperation with the local population,
local troops, Eighth Route Army and local popularly elected
government in Manchuria according to the cease fire agreement and
principles laid down by peaceful reconstruction program.
Question: What forces are there in Manchuria? What is the state of
the local government?
Answer: Manchuria has always had the largest number of people’s
forces in China. The people in all places of Manchuria flocked to
arms to exterminate Jap and puppet troops after the Soviet Army
entered Manchuria. The officers and troops of the former
Anti-Japanese Joint Army were most active and swiftly grew in
numbers. The troops under Chow Pao-chung, leader of the former
Anti-Japanese Joint Army, have increased to several tens of
thousands spread over east and north Manchuria and have formed Yang
Ching-yu
[Page 451]
detachment and
Chao Shang-chih (Yang and Chao were both Manchurian heroes fallen in
the Anti-Japanese War—Edit.) detachment. The large numbers of the
Eighth Route Army officers and men, guerrillas and People’s
Volunteers in the North China taken prisoner by the Japanese troops
have also actively joined the work of extermination Jap and puppet
troops after being liberated. The troops under the Manchuria Eighth
Route Army generals Chang Hsueh-shih, Lu Cheng-tsao and Wan Yi and
other Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army units ordered to march
into Manchuria to exterminate Jap and puppet troops have in the
course of their fighting become closely linked with the people. The
Eighth Route Army troops under General Li Yun-chang who fought the
Japs in Hopei–Jehol–Liaoning Border Region are now in West Liaoning.
Under the leadership of these forces, the Manchurian people have
organized a Manchuria Democratic Joint Army nearly three hundred
thousand strong disposed in areas not garrisoned by the Soviet Army
or evacuated by the Soviet Army in Manchuria. In addition, there are
Peace Preservation Corps and police who are also working for mopping
up of Jap and puppet troops and safeguarding local peace and
order.
In the area where Jap and puppet troops have been wiped out, the
local population have elected upright persons to form democratic
county governments. The leadership of these troops and local
governments are participated by the Chinese Communists whose
organizations were long ago destroyed by the Japs and puppets, the
action of the Communist members were at first not wholly unified. It
was not until the arrival of Peng Chen, Chen Yun, Lin Feng, Lin Piao
and Lo Yung-wheng—members of the Central Committee of the Chinese
Communist Party—that the supreme party leading organ was set up in
Manchuria to connect up the local party organizations and unify the
action of the party members.
At present in all places where the Chinese Communists are operating,
peace and order has been or is established. The bandits have been
gradually cleaned up, industry and commerce are reviving and
traitors are being tried and punished. The excellent beginning in
improving the livelihood and awakening the political consciousness
of the people has been made through the impeaching and settling
accounts with traitors by the people. Rut the bandits and remnants
of the puppet forces still disturb peace and order in certain
outlying places. Some Japanese whose ambitions have not been checked
are still attempting to wreck peace and democracy in Manchuria and
preserve their forces of aggression. The Manchurian people hate them
to bone and hope that the Democratic Joint Army will swiftly clean
them up so that they may again live in peace and security.
[Page 452]
Question: What is the policy of the Chinese Communist Party towards
Manchuria?
Answer: Like the policy of the Chinese Communist Party for the whole
country, the policy of the Chinese Communist Party towards Manchuria
may be summed up in four words—peace, democracy, unity and
reconstruction. The Chinese Communist Party has never been against
sending of personnel by National Government to restore sovereignty
over Manchuria. This has been clearly stated by the
Commander-in-Chief Chu Teh on November 28th last year. The cease
fire order issued by the Kuomintang and Communist Party on January
10th also formally stated that the cessation of all troops movements
did not apply to sending of troops by the National Government to
restore the sovereignty over Manchuria. But in order to realize
peace, democracy, unity and reconstruction in Manchuria we hold that
the following principles should be laid clown:
- (1)
- The National Government organs which are now taking over
Manchuria are monopolized by the Kuomintang Party and are
therefore contrary to the popular will in Manchuria and the
whole country. Consequently all organizations from
Generalissimo’s Administrative Headquarters and its
Political Committee and Economic Committee down to the
provincial governments should be reorganized. They should
take in all democrats in Manchuria and all parties and
groups and non-partisans within the country so that all the
democratic elements will enjoy the fair and effective
representation.
- (2)
- All Anti-Japanese Democratic Forces now in Manchuria
should be recognized and reorganized so that they may
jointly preserve local peace and order with troops sent
there by the National Government and exterminate the puppet
troops and bandits and avoid the military conflict.
- (3)
- All the democratic county governments in Manchuria should
be recognized. If it is felt that their basis is still not
broad enough, the reorganization measures should be adopted
through the joint deliberation or reelections held. They
should not be left unrecognized and it is advisable to
replace democratic measures of the popular election by
non-democratic measures of appointment.
- (4)
- At present China is on friendly terms with Soviet Union,
civil war between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist
Party has ceased. Since the local troops are helping to
maintain peace and order in Manchuria, the Kuomintang forces
entering Manchuria to recover the sovereignty should be
restricted to stipulated strength so as to alleviate the
burden of the people and be conducive to peace. The
reorganization of the puppet troops in Manchuria and
employment of the North China puppet armies (such as the New
27th Army under Chiang Peng-fei) to take over the
sovereignty in Manchuria should be forbidden.
Question: Can above policy of the Chinese Communist Party be put into
practice? What attitude has the National Government towards this
policy?
[Page 453]
Answer: We believe that under the present international and domestic
situation and the demands of the Manchurian people, only such a
policy is correct and can be materialized. The diametrically opposed
policy will inevitably be incorrect as well as impossible of
realization. A grave mistake will be made if the democrats and
Chinese Communists in Manchuria refuse to recognize the status of
the Kuomintang in Manchuria and are unwilling to cooperate sincerely
and work together with the Kuomintang for peace, democracy, unity
and reconstruction. Likewise, if the Kuomintang refuses to recognize
the status of the democratic forces and Chinese Communist Party in
Manchuria and is willing [unwilling?] to
cooperate and work sincerely with them, it would also commit a grave
mistake.
The Kuomintang has in the past resorted to settling Manchurian
question through use of military force. We are resolutely against
such a policy. But for the sake of peaceful settlement in Manchuria,
Chinese Communist-led troops have made many concessions to solve all
disputes about the local government in just and democratic manner.
We believe that this is also applicable to Manchuria. All in all, if
overall agreement is not reached by parties concerned and military
conflict thereby arises in Manchuria which occupies such important
positions in the country and where such complicated conditions
exist, this would be a blow to the longing for peace and democracy
of the Manchurian people who have been trampled for fourteen years
and the longing of the entire nation for peaceful settlement of the
Manchurian question.
The Chinese Communist Party has already requested the National
Government to conduct negotiations on this question. We sincerely
hope the government will in accordance with the cease fire agreement
and the spirit of the Political Consultation Conference enable such
negotiations to be promptly conducted so as swiftly to attain the
satisfactory results.
