ABSTRACT
Stuart's words reflect his hope that the situation in China could be changed and that the American government should continue providing aid to China. Stuart was aware that Chiang Kai-shek had placed his last hope of defeating the Communist Party on the American government. In order to negotiate with the CCP, Li Tsung-jen sent telegrams to invite Li Chi-shen, Chang Po-Chun and Chang Tung-sun to discuss means to promote peace. He hoped that these democrats could persuade the CCP leaders to agree to peace talks with the Nanking government. During the period when American China policy was still undecided, the PLA, led by the Communist Party, pulled off successive victories in strategic counterattacks launched in the summer of 1947, significantly changing the strength contrast of the KMT–CCP rivalry in the battlefields. Hoping to see the civil war end as quickly as possible, Stuart also expected Li Tsung-jen's request of peace talks would meet with a positive response from the CCP.
