FE Files, Lot 52–354
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Chase)
Reference attached excerpts from FCC Daily Reports of July 11, 12 and 13, 1945.93
Yenan is becoming more and more vitriolic and extremist in its broadcasts; talks in an excited, abnormal tone, suggesting that the present Chinese Communist propaganda has some urgent relation to immediate events and Communist objectives. The personal attack on Chiang Kai-shek is increasing rapidly; “American imperialists”, especially “Ambassador Hurley”, have become a major target of violent invective; allegations of Kuomintang armed attacks on Communists are becoming frequent and sweeping; and progress toward the convention of the Communists’ proposed “conference of liberated China’s people’s representatives” is being aggressively publicized.
It would be interesting to know whether this outburst represents primarily: (1) tactics designed by the Communist leaders themselves in relation to the current phase of their political rivalry with the Kuomintang; or (2) a line which the Soviet Union is encouraging Yenan to follow. If it reflects Soviet guidance, the propaganda might represent timed “evidence” to bolster Russian bargaining in the Soong-Stalin94 and Big Three talks.95 It might also be an indirect way of revealing Soviet mistrust of and opposition to Chiang’s regime, as presently constituted, and the extent to which it is being supported, advised and armed by the United States. A recent despatch from Moscow (to be circulated as soon as copies have been prepared)96 lends [Page 434] color to a belief that Moscow may be thus utilizing the Chinese Communists to express or emphasize views which the Russians wish to avoid stating, or at least stressing, in their direct conversations. In any event the fact that the Communists’ attack on the “Chiang-Hurley” policies comes at this particular international juncture may not be without significance.