893.00/8–1148: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—2:47 a. m.]
1486. Chang Chun who has just returned from an “unofficial” visit on behalf of Generalissimo to North, South, Southwest and West China, tells us that his greatest impression is that feeling of helplessness, [Page 414] dissatisfaction and consternation is centered largely in Shanghai and Nanking. In North China particularly but also to some extent in Nanking and Shanghai he found tendency for articulate opinion to fall into two groups: (1) anti-US–Japan policy, pro-Soviet, anti-Government and basically anti-US—he mentioned Generalissimo’s eldest son Chiang Ching-kuo as typical leader in this element and (2) pro-US, anti-Soviet, with a tendency to be pro-Government. He mentioned no particular leader of this latter group. One other phenomenon which puzzled him was evidence of a belief that with our increased responsibilities in the world we had become possibly more arrogant and less inclined to consider opinions of others.
In South China and Southwest China and in Szechwan he had found life going on much as usual, little pessimism, but on other hand considerable optimism that if each region were allowed to go its way without too much interference from Nanking they could get along. Szechwan, he said, was prospering.
Chang Chun confirmed press reports that he hopes soon to visit Japan in order to inform himself of our policy in respect of Japan and added that he hopes also to visit US.
We believe Chang Chun with all his inability to meet issues and take a strong position is basically sound and that anything we can do to facilitate or encourage his visit to Japan and to US should be in our interests.