740.0011 European War 1939/30698: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15—4 a.m.]
1469. Following are the first 4 paragraphs of a news despatch purportedly written by David Lu, Central News staff correspondent at Washington, under Washington dateline August 12:
“As the Roosevelt–Churchill conference in Quebec draws near disappointment over Stalin’s absence and the non-participation of Russia in the forthcoming talks continues to increase. There is little mention here or in Quebec about whether Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek has been invited to participate or whether Chinese observers will be present at the Quebec conference.13
London and Moscow press dispatches received here indicate that Stalin has been invited but that he has expressed ‘regret’ that he will not be able to attend owing to the present summer offensive. There [Page 91] is still a lot of suspicion and distrust of Russia here and Moscow’s aloofness has caused much speculation and apprehension. The same old argument is advanced for Stalin’s absence: ‘Moscow is not inclined to risk complications with Japan since she is still at peace with Tokyo. By taking part in the proceedings which most logically will include the Pacific war front as well as the European theater.’
It is further pointed out by some critics that Stalin’s absence suggests a basic lack of understanding among the United Nations members on the political aims of the post-war period. From this it appears that there would be less misunderstanding if there were a full agreement exchanged between China and the other Anglo-American Allies.”
- This Anglo-American War Conference met at Quebec, August 11–24, 1943 (First Quebec Conference). Mr. T. V. Soong, the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, representing Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, participated in the discussions. For joint statement by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, August 24, regarding the Conference, see Department of State Bulletin, August 28, 1943, p. 121. The records of this Conference are scheduled for publication in a subsequent volume of Foreign Relations.↩