893.00/10–1946
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 19—7:10 a.m.]
1702. Statement of Chinese Communist Central Committee on current negotiations as broadcast October 18 by Yenan radio reads in full:
“The Chinese Communist Party has, since conclusion of anti-Japanese war, time and again made concessions to cooperate with Kmt95 leader Chiang Kai-shek to strive for realization of peace and democracy within country.
In August last year Mao Tse Tung, Chairman of Chinese Communist Party, personally negotiated over 40 days in Chungking. The Communist Party made first concession of withdrawing Communist troops who had fought meritoriously against Japs from Chekiang, south Kiangsu, south Anhwei, south Hupeh and west Honan to obtain signing of Double Tenth agreement.96 Unfortunately Chiang Kai-shek issued his ‘bandit suppression’ order the second day of publication of agreement after receiving American military aid. Tragic civil war then spread over country for 3 months.
Chinese Communist Party, however, continued its efforts for peace despite such bad faith of Chiang Kai-shek and American Govt. On January 10 this year, Kmt, Communist Party and United States signed cease fire order stipulating that all hostilities and troop movements throughout country should cease fire January 13, allowing Chiang Kai-shek to send five armies to Manchuria under condition of ceasing [Page 391] hostilities. This was second concession made by Chinese Communist Party.
On January 31, all major parties and groups and prominent social representatives unanimously passed five resolutions in political consultation conference. Communist Party made concessions for third time at conference, among which concession on question of old representatives to National Assembly was most important.
Meanwhile Kmt had already violated cease fire order in Manchuria, Jehol, Hupeh and Kwangtung and was continuing its military offensive. In Chungking there had occurred the wreckage of New China Daily News office and injuring of its personnel and breaking up of meeting celebrating PCC success at Chiao Chiang Kow by secret police.
Communist Party, however, again made concessions for fourth time. On February 25 it signed army reorganization agreement with Kmt and United States making concession for sake of compromise. Chiang Kai-shek’s military attacks, troop movements and political reaction however only increased in intensity.
February second plenary session of CEC97 openly demanded overthrowing of cease fire order, political consultation conference decisions and army reorganization agreement while American military aid to Chiang Kai-shek greatly exceeded that of Hurley98 period.
Chinese Communist Party made concessions for fifth time on March 27 and agreed that Manchuria should preserve status of that date instead of January 13. Although this agreement was signed by Kmt, Communist Party and United States, it was thoroughly torn up by Kmt. Latter began large-scale offensive in Manchuria and United States simply looked on.
Communist Party made concessions on various questions for sixth time in June. Chiang Kai-shek, however, suddenly brought forth his five unreasonable demands through United States which reduced all negotiations to nought. After this, with continued United States large-scale aid Chiang Kai-shek’s troops went on military rampage all over country.
In order to make concessions for seventh time, Chinese Communist Party agreed to participate in informal five man committee meeting about reorganization of govt, on condition of ensuring cessation of hostilities. This minimum condition was also rejected by Chiang Kai-shek and United States. Chiang Kai-shek’s troops launched their attack on Kalgan. Reaching limit of endurance, Communist Party formally notified that if this attack was not halted it would [Page 392] indicate Chiang Kai-shek’s determination for complete break. Reply from Chiang Kai-shek and United States was ultimatum setting October 10 as time limit for accepting Chiang Kai-shek’s exorbitant demands.
Chinese Communist Party again made concessions for eighth time that it would participate in three man military talks and five man political talks and only demanded that Chiang Kai-shek call off the attack on Kalgan. This was eventually rejected by Chiang Kai-shek and United States and Chiang Kai-shek’s troops occupied Kalgan on eleventh this month.
All this shows that what Chiang Kai-shek and U. S. are after is merely submission and extermination of Chinese democratic movement and maintenance of reactionary dictatorship betraying country. Military activities of Chiang Kai-shek and United States are designed for this aim and all their so-called political settlement and peace mediation interspersed to cover up military activities are also directed toward this end.
So long as they do not abandon this aim, each utmost concession of Communist Party will not only be unable to satisfy their craving but will instead be regarded as weakness of Chinese people which can be bullied. Encouraged they will instead want yard when given inch until they have forced Chinese Communist Party to betray all popular interests and have entirely exterminated Chinese democratic movement. That is why Chiang Kai-shek is attacking, conscripting, levying grain and tramping on national independence, democracy and livelihood of people throughout country and has himself ordered convention of so-called National Assembly while United States firmly refuses to withdraw her forces from China and cease aid to Chiang Kai-shek thereby showing that they have not least desire for peace and democracy.
Faced by such dark situation, entire nation hopes that Chinese Communist Party will uphold justice and save nation from catastrophe. The Chinese Communist Party swears that it will exert its powers to the utmost and fight to the end to fulfill hopes of people.
To again deceive people and attain his personal ambitions, Chiang Kai-shek has adopted pose of peace by declaring his eight points for peace on October 16. Communist Party holds that if only Chiang Kai-shek is willing to realize real effective peace under popular pressure, it is also willing to let bygones be bygones and again resume negotiations. But since solemn orders, promises and guarantees can be torn up at will during past 14 months, an agreement reached today can also become waste paper tomorrow. There may be five and eight demands today and 50 demands, 80 demands tomorrow. Chinese [Page 393] Communist Party can no longer bear to see such shameless deception practiced on suffering people. The Communist Party has therefore only one demand—that faith be first of all restored.
What is sacred criterion of faith today? It is cease fire order signed by Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Tse Tung and Marshall on January 10 and political consultation conference resolutions unanimously passed by Chiang Kai-shek and PCC delegates on January 31.
To show its final greatest concession, Chinese Communist Party solemnly declares: If all negotiations are expected to attain actual results, sacred validity of cease fire agreements should be recognized, namely restoration of positions occupied by Kmt and Communist troops on January 13 should form criterion for all military talks, and implementation of all political consultation conference decisions should form criterion for all political talks. Communist Party holds that Chiang Kai-shek and Marshall should value their good faith and character. There cannot be least excuse for overthrowing sacred agreements signed by themselves. If only they show minimum demonstration of sincerity, Communist Party will surely continue to cooperate with them to utmost for real realization of peace and for real beginning of democracy. Communist Party believe that justice will triumph in the end. No matter what tribulations and tortuous paths have to be undergone, just endeavors of Chinese people to win peace and democracy will finally restore entire validity of cease fire order and political consultation conference decisions. We are willing to work together with entire nation for this end.”
- Kuomintang.↩
- See summary of conversations between representatives of the National Government and the Chinese Communist Party, United States Relations With China, p. 577.↩
- Central Executive Committee.↩
- Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Hurley was in China, 1944–45, as President Roosevelt’s Special Representative and as Ambassador.↩