Ideology or Pragmatism? The Emergence of the Chinese Communist Party's Diplomacy with the United States, 1942-1946

The dramatic changes of attitude of the Chinese Communist leadership toward the U.S. in the 1940s remain an intriguing subject of historical inquiry. The two sides first established contact in Chungking in 1942, and two years later Yenan Witnessed the arrival of the US. Army observer Group (the Dixie Mission), which indicated American quasiofficial recognition of the CCP. However, not long after the CCP turned hostile toward the U.S. Mao Tse-tung warned his colleagues on February 12, 1945, that: 'We must attack the U.S. Govermnemt’s policy of supporting Chiang and opposing Communism. Do not be afraid of its anger and COndemnation. '1 In June, 1945, after the' Case Of the Six'2 was made public, the CCP began attacking U.S. imperialism'openly. A circular ofthe Central COmmittee of the CCP, dated June 17, asserted that the U.S. GOVernment Would not abandon its anti-Communist policy until it got into an impasse. Interestinqly enough, however, in the fall of 1945, Mao and Chou En-lai Went to Chungking accompanied by the American' imperialist' Patrick J. Hurley to negotiate with the National Government. Despite Hurley’s failure to bring about a coalition government in China and his abrupt resignation from his ambassadorship on November 27, the CCP continued to go along with the renewed U.S. effort of mediation.