Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East: China, Volume VII

893.50/12–1547: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, December 15, 1947—10 a.m.
[Received December 15—7:38 a.m.]

2396. Gimo has read carefully and shown to Premier and FonMin Price⁸⁴ memo on reorganization of China enclosed my despatch 1141, December 4.⁸⁵ All three expressed approval and will consider program in constructive sympathetic spirit.

Gimo, while supporting program, has pointed out following difficulties and its implementation which he nevertheless hopes can be overcome:

(1) Under new constitution Legislative Yuan after December 25 will have to approve any such agreements. Temper of that body is uncertain but care must be taken to avoid accusation of encroachments upon Chinese sovereignty in such way that public support can be won for program. Without public support he feels that neither he nor Executive Yuan could implement program.

(2) He feels care must be taken to assure American public United States is not assuming too great a responsibility for Chinese internal affairs and,

(3) He reiterates that China can accept at least as great supervision as western European countries and suggests familiarity of approach be stressed. He feels initiative might properly come from China and that China should invite the advisers who would help toward modernized democratic reform.

Gimo’s secretary is now working on draft proposal and I anticipate démarche shortly. I have impression Gimo at least still thoroughly convinced time has arrived for reform and that in speaking as above he is merely trying to visualize some of the difficulties which will be encountered.

Stuart

84. Harry B. Price, Assistant Director of UNRRA in China.
85. Despatch with enclosed memorandum not printed; the latter proposed comprehensive American aid to China based on a jointly determined recovery and development program, an invitation from the Chinese Government to the American Government to provide for extensive American participation in the implementation of such a program, and development of a series of urgently needed and far-reaching economic and political reforms (893.50/12–447). In telegram No. 195, February 6, 1948, to the Ambassador in China, the Secretary of State described the memorandum as “an idealistic blueprint” and added that it was “predicated upon the availability not only of an abundance of material and financial resources but also on a willingness and ability of the Chinese Govt to act more drastically than ever before.… Furthermore the program would involve direct responsibilities to a degree which the US could not assume and commitments which we could not undertake”. (893.00/12–447)