U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA RESIGNS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24736, 29 November 1945, Page 5

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA RESIGNS

Frustration of Policy Alleged

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyrijht) (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 27. Asserting that United States foreign policy in Asia had been frustrated by "professional diplomats," Major-General Patrick J. Hurley announced his resignation as United States Ambassador to China. President Truman has announced that General George Marshall, who has just retired from the post of Chief of Staff of the United States Army, will succeed Major-General Hurley. General Marshall is described as the President's special envoy with the rank of Ambassador. Major-General Hurley's resignation, and his "blast" of criticism, which surprised everyone, was followed by a meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee of the United States Departments of State, War, and the Navy, which has largely determined policy in the Far East. "Major-General Hurley's resignation apparently came as a surprise to officials, because it had been announced soon after he arrived in the United States last month for a rest that he was returning to his post," says the correspondent of the "New York Times" in Washington. "When Major-General Hurley discussed the mailer wiih the Secretary of State (Mr James Byrnes) two days ago, Mr Byrnes prevailed on him not to press his resignation. 1 Mr Truman's first news of the resignation came over the ticker tape. The President, after confirming the report, telephoned General Marshall at his Virginia home and; asked him if he would go to China as special envoy to handle a particular job. General Marshall acceded.

"Mr Truman earlier conferred with the Chinese Ambassador to Washington (Mr -Wei Tao-ming), who in discussion with reporters after leaving the White House, sought to minimise the seriousness of the Chinese position. Mr Wei said there was more shouting than shooting going on between the Nationalists ; and Communists over the occupation of Manchukuo.

In a formal statement on his resignation, Major-General Hurley said he agreed entirely with the American foreign policy ouUined by President Truman, but professional diplomats in the lower echelons were frustrating the attainment of the announced policy. When he was assigned to China he was directed by President Roosevelt to prevent the collapse of the Chiang Kai-shek Government and . keep the Chinese Army in the war, he said. His next directive was to harmonise relations' between the Chinese and the military and between the American Embassy and the Chinese Government. Both objectives were accomplished. It was no secret that the policy did not have the support of all the career men in the State Department. Professional foreign service men sided with the Chinese Communists and the imperialistis bloc of nations who wished to keejp China self-divided. "Professional diplomats continuously advised the Communists that my efforts in preventing the collapse qf the National Government did not represent United States policy," he said. "The same professional diplomats openly advised the Communist Army to decline unification with the Chinese National Army unless the ( Communists were given control.

"In spite of handicaps, we: made pro- • gress towards unification of the armed"* forces. "We did prevent civil war be- : tween the rival factions, at least until' I had left, and" brought the rival leaders together .for peaceful discussions. The chief opposition to the ac-' complishment of our miasiori came 7 from American career diplomats in the Embassy in Chungking and in the : ■ Chinese and Far Eastern divisions of the State Department." Major-General Hurley 'said '■" that s when the career men were recalled' V J from Chungking at his request they were placed in.the State Department' as his supervisors and as.advisers to"-. General, Mac Arthur. •■■■:■:

"The. weakness of American foreign.' policy has backed us.into two world■•■':' wars in which we had no part in-shap-ing conditions," he saicL . He recommended a complete.reorganisation of the policy-making machinery, beginning at'the .lower, official* levels, and leadership by "the United : States of a move to amend or revise the United Nations Charter to make it democratic. ;. ' - v. ;;

"Our strength should be used to upV* hold the United Nations Organisation - rather than to support conflictingx ideologies or war-making power blocß, he concluded.. '■•:' :■■■-•.'■•' .-■;' ,-