811.91293/371: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 25—12:08 p.m.]
1291. Gunther Stein, correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor and also the Institute of Pacific Relations, has shown us a letter dated July 22, which he has received from the Vice Minister of Information as follows:
“It has come to our knowledge that Mr. T. A. Bisson of the International Secretary [Secretariat?] of the Institute of Pacific Relations has in the latest issue of Far Eastern Survey asserted:
‘The early promise held out by the war for the broadening and deepening Chinese unity through the achievement of liberal political and economic reforms has not been fulfilled. Two Chinas have definitely emerged, each with its own Government, military forces, political and economic institutions. One is generally called Kuomintang China and the other Communist China. But the terms Feudal China and Democratic China more accurately express the actualities as they exist today.’
Pending the receipt of a satisfactory explanation from the IPR for the publication of the foregoing passage, we regret that we cannot extend to you, as the Chungking correspondent of the Institute, the privilege of transmitting your message by Chinese Government radio facilities. Your message is herewith returned.”
Stein states that he himself has in no sense any responsibility for the article of which a portion is quoted above and which is an exaggerated and out of focus description of the situation. He asks that IPR be informed that he has been suspended as correspondent therefor. He has not been suspended as correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor.