811.20200(D)/11–1348: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—2:15 a. m.]
2199. While we recognize the validity of arguments in Mukden’s 537 to Department, repeated, Nanking 670, November 9, 6 a. m., we believe there are compelling reasons counselling against display of Communist literature in USIS reading roam Mukden. We are not aware of what the practice is in other Communist controlled areas and therefore are in no position to comment on that aspect. As far as particular ease of Mukden, we believe permitting Communist literature to appear in reading room would simply be first step in process whereby Communists would gradually take over entire operation and find it necessary close operation. In our opinion it would be preferable to close it now before we find ourselves compromised.
It is our understanding, furthermore, that Congress appropriated money for USIS to present the American scene and American point of view to other peoples. This proposed action would not only put US in position of presenting foreign point of view, but also of presenting an ideology about which the American attitude has already been made abundantly clear throughout the world. Entirely apart from all other considerations, we could hardly view with any great pleasure public reaction should such action on our part be aired in halls of Congress. We already have a precedent established in Nationalist China where we have steadfastly refused to accept any Kmt literature on grounds that USIS is designed solely to present the American point of view.
Finally, we believe that to accept any Communist literature would put us in hopeless position of having to accept anything which was offered us and thereby compromise the entire principle on which USIS is based. We feel compelled, therefore, to recommend strongly that Mukden’s proposal be disapproved.
Repeated Shanghai 1095 for Connors; Department pass Mukden 194.