795.00/11–1750: Telegram
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Wilkinson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 17—11:06 p. m.]
1164. ConGen has received numerous reports some from fairly reliable sources that Chinese Communists decision to participate in Korean War was made following consultations with Russians. However, ConGen has been unable obtain any reliable information as to extent to which Chinese Communists may have acted under Soviet pressure. It seems reasonable to suppose Chinese Communists intervention not only has Soviet sanction but also was urged by Soviets. Nevertheless there is sufficient identity of national interest between the two nations with respect to Korea, given Marx-Leninist theory which has strong influence on leaders of both countries, that Chinese may have felt they acted in national interest even though from our point of view they are simply promoting aims of Soviet imperialism. There are wide differences of opinion in Hong Kong on this question and so far as ConGen has been able ascertain opinions are based solely on observer’s general attitude toward independence or lack of independence of Chinese Communists with relation to Moscow rather than any knowledge of what took place in discussions between Chinese Communists and Russians prior to intervention in Korea. Strong feeling exists among Western Europeans in Hong Kong that Chinese Communists acted independently as result genuine fear that US threatening Manchuria. Those holding this belief counsel compromise [Page 1184] in Korea and admission Communist China to TIN”. At other extreme are violently anti-Communist Chinese who believe every act of Chinese Commnists is dictated by Moscow and advocate strongest possible action against Chinese Communists including support of mainland guerrillas. ConGen believes truth lies somewhere between two extremes but evidence defining exact relationship between Peking and Moscow extremely difficult obtain. Fairly reliable reports have been received on top level Chinese Communists policy discussions but not a single report above rumor category has been received by any American agency Hong Kong on top level Sino-Russian conversations.