U.S. President Harry S. Truman to the Chinese Ambassador ( Koo ) 2
Washington, August 10, 1946
My Dear Mr. Ambassador:
I should appreciate your transmitting by the most expeditious
means available to you the following confidential message from
me to President Chiang Kai-Shek:
“Since I sent General Marshall to you as my special envoy, I have
followed closely the situation in China. It is with deep regret that
I am forced to the conclusion that his efforts have apparently
proved unavailing.
“I am certain that General Marshall, in his discussions with you,
has reflected accurately the overall attitude and policy of the
American Government and of informed American public opinion
as well.
“During recent months the rapidly deteriorating political
situation in China has been a cause of grave concern to the
American people.
While it is the continued hope of the United States that a strong
and democratic China can yet be achieved under your leadership,
I would be less than honest if I did not point out that recent
developments have forced me to the conclusion that the selfish
interests of extremist elements, equally in the Kuomintang as in
the Communist party, are hindering the aspirations of the
Chinese people.
“The Agreements reached by the Political Consultative
Conference on January 31st were greeted in the United States as
a far-sighted step toward the achievement of national unity and
democracy. American disappointment over failure to implement
these agreements by concrete measures is becoming an important
factor in our outlook with regard to China.
“There exists in the United States an increasing body of opinion
which holds that our entire policy toward China must be
reexamined in the light of spreading strife, and especially by
evidence of the increasing tendency to suppress freedom of the
press as well as the expression of liberal views among intellectuals.
The recent assassinations of distinguished Chinese liberals at
Kunming have not gone unnoticed. Regardless of where
responsibility for these cruel murders may lie, the end result has
been to focus American attention on the situation in China, and
there is a growing conviction that an attempt is being made to
settle major social issues by resort to force, military or secret
police, rather than by democratic processes.
“Our faith in the peaceful and democratic aspirations of the
people of China has been shaken by recent events, but not
destroyed. It is still the firm desire of this Government and of
the people of the United States to assist China to achieve lasting
peace and a stable economy under a truly democratic government.
There is a growing feeling, however, that the aspirations of the
Chinese people are being thwarted by militarists and a small
group of political reactionaries, who, failing to comprehend the
liberal trend of the times, are obstructing the advancement of the
general good of the nation. Such a state of affairs is violently
repugnant to the American people.
“Unless convincing proof is shortly forthcoming
that genuine progress is being made toward a
peaceful settlement of China’s internal problems,
it must be expected that American opinion will
not continue in its generous attitude towards your
nation.
It will, furthermore, be necessary for me to redefine and explain
the position of the United States to the American people.
“It is my earnest hope that I may in the near future receive
some encouraging word from you which will facilitate the
accomplishment of our mutually declared objectives.”
Sincerely,
Harry S. Truman
1. Handed to the Chinese Minister (Tan), in the absence of the Ambassador, by the
Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent) on the afternoon of August 10.
2. Text sent to General Marshall in telegram No. 97150, August 11. It was based on a draft “suggestion” in telegram No. 1283, August 10, from General Marshall and Ambassador Stuart.
谷歌翻譯：
杜魯門總統致中國大使（ 辜 ）2
華盛頓，1946年8月10日
親愛的大使先生：
我希望你能以最迅速的方式向蔣介石總統轉達我的以下機密信息。
自從我把馬歇將軍作為我的特使派往你方之後，我一直密切關注中國的局勢。
我非常遺憾，被迫得出這帚結論，馬歇將軍的努力顯然沒有成效。
“我確信，馬歇將軍在與你的討論中已經祟釧M全面地理解了美國政府的一般
態度和政策。
“近幾個月來，中國政治局勢迅速惡化一直是美國人民嚴重關切的一個原因。雖
然現在還是時候向你道別極端主樽壑l在國民黨和共產黨一屆A都在阻礙中國人
民的願望。
“政治協商會議1月31日達成的協議在美國迎來，是朝實現民族團結和民主邁出
的遠大目標。美國對具體手段失敗的失望正在成為我們關於中國的一個重要因素。
在美國，越來越多的人認為意見越來越多知識分子的自由主觀點。最近在昆明
發生的對中國傑出自由派的暗殺事件並未被忽視。不管碰撞事件的責任在哪裡，
它已成為中國的一大問題秘密警察，而不是民主程序。
“我們對中國人民的和平民主願望的信仰，最近的事件震動了，但沒有被摧毀。
這個政府和美國的援助仍然是堅定的願望。然而，越來越多的人認為，宣傳人民
大眾的利益是由軍國主慦怍M一小批政治反動派國家。這種事態對美國人民來說
是非常令人厭惡的。
“除非在美國有任何意憛A”他說，“美國的意見不會繼續對你的國家抱有慷慨
的態度。它希望我有必要重新定憍M解釋美國對美國人民的立場。
“我殷切希望，在不久的將來，我們會收到一些鼓勵的話，這將有助於實現我們
共同商定的目標。”
此致
哈里·杜魯門
Mad World - Gary Jules
An English Phrase: By hook or by crook
By whatever means necessary - be they fair or foul.
