Disaster Strikes Down an Old U.S. Ally
Finally, in the summer of 1946, when the Communists had repeatedly violated the truce agreement, the Nationalists decided to vigorously counterattack and penetrate deep into Manchuria. The diplomats frantically ordered Chiang to stop, but he refused to do so. He said another truce would only allow the Communists time to re-group and come back even more fiercely than before. He also said it was his intention to continue the campaign to forcibly disarm the Communists and restore them to civilian status so that China could get on with her program of constitutional government without fear of constant insurrection.
This line of reasoning did not appeal to the State Department. Three different times Chiang was ordered to issue an unconditional cease-fire. To make it stick a U.S. embargo was finally placed on all aid to Chiang. Only after United States aid abruptly halted did Chiang reluctantly agree to a cease-fire. General Marshall stated: “As Chief of Staff I armed 39 antiCommunist divisions (in China), now with a stroke of a pen I disarm them”.
The Wedemeyer Report
...the summer of 1947, General Albert C. Wedemeyer was sent to Asia under Presidential orders to find out what was wrong in China. (snip) He indicated that not only had the interests of free China been violated, but the self-interests of the United States and all her allies had been subordinated to the whims of the Communists. He recommended prompt and voluminous aid to the Nationalist Government and predicted that the situation could still be salvaged if help were provided in time.
Unfortunately, the report fell into the hands of the very people whom General Wedemeyer had criticized. Consequently, it was buried in department files for nearly 2 years and was not brought to light until long after it was too late to take the action it recommended.
(snip)
By September, 1949, the Communist leaders were already wildly celebrating their victory as they set up the “People’s Republic of China”.
(snip)