893.00/2–2845
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State to President Roosevelt 24
I am enclosing for your information a copy of a telegram from Chungking regarding the situation in China.25 In this telegram Mr. Atcheson has presented very clearly the dangers inherent in the failure of the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communists to reach agreement. It is obvious that continued failure to effect political unity must adversely affect the vigorous prosecution of the war against Japan and raises well-founded fears that civil strife and possible international complications may eventually result if the basic differences between these two groups are not reconciled.
Despite a number of encouraging developments during the last few months, we have been increasingly concerned over recent indications that the Generalissimo has adopted an intransigent attitude toward this vitally important problem. These developments emphasize the need of flexibility in applying our policies toward China. The forthcoming arrival of Ambassador Hurley and General Wedemeyer in Washington will afford an opportunity to go over the whole situation with them and in particular the Embassy’s recommendation that we consider giving war supplies to the Chinese Communists as well as to Generalissimo Chiang.