In the second half of the last century, China and the United States have been opposing camps, with each other talking and accusing each other, and to this day, there are still many stereotypes. But in fact, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the leaders of the Communist Party of China always had a very good impression of the United States, and around 1945, Chairman Mao proposed three times his wish to visit the United States.
Unfortunately, Chairman Mao's three wishes were vetoed by one person, so much so that the Americans still hold their hearts on his actions in those years. This person was Hurley, the US ambassador to China at that time.
In the second half of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, through the efforts of Zhou Enlai, most of the diplomats of the US Embassy in China were full of interest in Yan'an under the leadership of the Communist Party, which naturally attracted the attention of US President Roosevelt.
At that time, although Roosevelt supported Chiang Kai-shek's government, he was also deeply troubled by Chiang Kai-shek's incompetence, especially the corruption of the Nationalist government, and he showed great interest when he heard that Yan'an under the leadership of the Communist Party was a completely different picture.
With Roosevelt's approval, on July 22, 1944, the U.S. Military Observation Group flew to Yan'an to visit Yan'an, with Colonel Bao Ruide as the leader of the group, accompanied by Xie Weisi, Yi Deng, the secretary of the US ambassador to China.
(Photo: Chairman Mao greets the US military observation group at Yan'an Airport)
During this visit, the US side was very friendly and proposed to provide at least 25,000 guerrillas in Yan'an with food, clothing and other full equipment, as well as at least 100,000 Woolwolse single-shot pistols for the militia, and at the same time establish a special school to train how to use these weapons.
Chairman Mao was also very happy and agreed that the Yan'an military and civilians would provide the necessary support to the US military, and specially proposed that he and Zhou Enlai could go to the United States to meet with President Roosevelt.
If this plan can be realized, with mao zedong's great charm, supplemented by Zhou Enlai's long-sleeved good dance, it will certainly have a major impact on Roosevelt, and there is also great hope for close cooperation between China and the United States in the future. Unfortunately, this plan was opposed by Hurley.
Hurley was President Roosevelt's personal envoy at the time, and he was judged by the outside world as "a man of the limelight, a love of vanity, ignorance and arrogance." Hurley's choice confirms his "ignorance and arrogance." In his view, President Roosevelt supported the Chiang Kai-shek government, so we should be on the side of Chiang Kai-shek, not with Yan'an, and Roosevelt would not have met Mao Zedong.
This incident fully proves that Hurley's political short-sightedness, he is too ignorant of politics.
(Photo: Hurley during the Chongqing negotiations)
On December 15, 1944, Bo Ruide visited Yan'an again, accompanied by Crommley, a member of the U.S. Strategic Intelligence Agency, and others. On January 9, 1945, Cromly sent a telegram to Wei Demai, commander of the U.S. forces in China, declaring: "The Yan'an government wants to send an unofficial group to the United States to explain the current situation and problems in China to interested americans and officials." Here's their absolutely secret proposal: If President Roosevelt offers to host them at the White House as leaders of one of China's major political parties, Mao and Zhou are willing to travel to Washington immediately for exploratory talks, either together or alone. ”
Before sending a telegram, Zhou Enlai also specifically told him: "General Hurley must not be allowed to know about this, because I do not believe in his judgment." ”
In the eyes of Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai, although Wei Demai was not familiar with him, since he came to China, this person has attached great importance to Bao Ruide, Xie Weisi, and other people who are pro-Yan'an faction, and at least in terms of position, they will not be as biased as Hurley, and it is undoubtedly more trustworthy for him to pass on the word than Hurley.
Unfortunately, however, the telegram sent by Cromley still leaked the news and was known to Hurley. Hurley had an opinion on Weidmann, believing that Weidmayer's power in China was too great, interfering with his actions. In particular, dealing with the Chinese government should be the business of the ambassador to China, not by the commander of the US military in China. Therefore, this time he seized this handle and complained to Roosevelt.
(Pictured: Wei Demai and Chennault, captain of the Flying Tigers)
Under pressure, Weidmer had to issue a statement: "The primary mission of the US military stationed in China is to support the current Chinese government." As a result, Chairman Mao's plan to visit the United States was once again frustrated.
In his later years, Cromley lamented the incident, believing that his indiscretion had caused a "grave mistake."
In March 1945, Xie Weisi visited Yan'an again. Chairman Mao also once again proposed to him that he hoped to discuss some issues with Roosevelt in person and clarify some misunderstandings between the two sides.
However, Hurley jumped out again, resolutely sided with Chiang Kai-shek, and refuted Xie Weisi's plan to reconcile with the CCP. Xie Weisi had to return to the United States with regret.
On the same day that Sherweiss returned to the United States, on April 12, President Roosevelt died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage.
To this day, many Americans are still grumpy about this matter: If it were not for Hurley's obstruction and Chairman Mao's successful visit to the United States, then New China would not have become an opponent of the United States, and the world situation would have been greatly different in the future.
Unfortunately, history does not have an "if", and all the successes, failures, gains and losses have turned into a wisp of smoke in the long river of history.