The China Story Paperback – September 10, 2010

Ms. Utley presents a story of the Chiang Kai-shek-Mao Tse-tung conflict that blames the outcome on several important facts. Chiang had a weak army because of leadership problems including incompetence and corruption. He and his circle of leaders helped destroy any hope of economic justice in a population subjected to onerous taxes and land ownership restrictions. The communists had the support of the people and the enthusiasm of a determined army. In spit of her presentation of these facts she tries to pin the blame for the outcome on an almost mystical power of communism over peoples minds. And of course she blames, in the usual McCarthy era fantasy, the diplomats and military personnel who relayed the message to Washington that a corrupt Chiang regime lacking the support of the population could not win.

This is a brilliant expose by Mrs. Utley on the truth of what happened to China post WWII. I was always under the impression that the Soviet Union double-crossed us leading to war in Korea. Not entirely wrong, but that isn't the whole story. In fact, we tried to appease Russia at almost every turn in hopes of avoiding conflict. But instead appeasement brought war. Secretary of State Dean Acheson makes public comments stating Korea and Formosa(Taiwan) are not in our defensive perimeter. Did he actually think Russia would not take note of his comment which practically invited attack. With communists infiltrating our gov't, and appeasers in the State Dept. it was a recipe for disaster. George Marshall relays American policy to Chiang Kai-Shek. And what is the policy? Bring the communists into your gov't to create a coalition gov't or else American financial and military aid will be suspended. That is actually what occured.

Here we have intelligent men making horrible or stupid decisions regarding foreign policy. We have known communists in the State Dept.; who when the heat is on, resign, only to be found later, working for the United Nations or other gov't agencies. We have widespread appeasement as policy which most definitely favors our foe. Has this all occured by chance, a roll of the dice.

Sen. McCarthy exposed this for what it was. A group of people,whether knowingly or ignorantly, bent on destroying this nation. Why? Because we were and still are the only nation left to hinder the New World Order. America holds the key to the future. The China Story isn't ancient history. It is a guide for our future endeavors. In the words of Douglas MacArthur...there is no substitute for victory! If we fail all freedom and liberty will be lost. Not only in this nation, but for the whole world.

The China Story is chock full of facts and brilliant insights about the events that led the U.S. into the Korean War. Nothing gets past Ms. Utley, and she is able to present her evidence and insights in a clear, concise manner. She does not add anything unnecessary to fill pages, nor does she indulge in self-aggrandizing stylizing or show-off vocabulary. This book was written when the events were "current events" - yet the author is able to connect the dots in a way that is often not possible until years later.

U.S. policy and action in the Far East from about 1945 to 1950 are covered. Details from the White Paper on China and the Tydings Committee are included.

Utley sheds light on the truth of many events. For instance, she clearly lays out evidence that removes full blame often attributed to Chiang Kai-shek's National Government for China falling to the Communists, and places the shame on the U.S. doorstep. The author concludes "The record of America's China policy since 1945 shatters the myth that China was lost to the Communists simply because of the shortcomings of the National Government. Examination of the figures of "military aid" to China leads to the conclusion that it was lack of ammunition, as well as too much American interference to the benefit of the Communists, which gave the victory to Stalin." Utley tells how the U.S. hindered the Chinese Nationalist Government attempts to cope with Communist aggression - and did the same to S. Korea, denying them effective military aid (even though it had been voted by Congress).

In support of Chiang Kai-shek, Utley says "Chiang Kai-shek certainly stands out in his generation as a moral leader and a great man because of his refusal to compromise with the overwhelming force represented first by Japan, then by Russian totalitarian tyranny. However far short he may have come of implementing broadly democratic principles in China, he proved himself a valiant enemy of totalitarianism on two fronts."

Throughout the book, Utley carefully connects the dots into a pattern ....such as Manchuria, which the U.S. had no right to give to Stalin, but did anyhow for their own selfish purposes, then Manchuria being used as a base for Communist operations against China, and then against America in the Korea War - where 40,000 American soldiers were killed or wounded in 1950....follow the dots? All the supporting details are laid out in the book.

The China Story examines the impact of the Communists ensconced in high positions in the U.S. State Dept. and elsewhere in the U.S. Government, along with Presidents Roosevelt's and Truman's complicity.

How many Americans left their families and livelihoods to serve in Korea were aware that Truman turned down the offer of Chinese Nationalists troops to help fight the Communists in Korea? ... that Truman prevented the Chinese Nationalist forces from running their successful blockade of war materials to the Communists? ...that the U.S. Government allowed American firms like Isbrandtsen Lines to profit by rushing war supplies to the Communists to fight against our American servicemen in Korea?

Utley points out that U.S. government employees who were anti-communists were often blacklisted, ignored, sent to obscure posts, etc., while those who were participating in Communist espionage were protected and/or promoted.

Formally accused espionage agents were generally let off with a slap to the wrist or never brought to trial. One example given was a 1945 espionage trial where the U.S. government attorney, a Mr. Hitchcock, told the judge he needed "less than 5 minutes" to present his case. He recommended no jail sentence, just a fine. Mr. Hitchcock resigned from the Justice Dept. 15 months later to become a member of the law firm Kenefick, Cooke, Mitchell, Bess & Letchworth - with James Mitchell being uncle to accused spy Kate Louise Mitchell who was never brought to trial. What a coincidence.

Utley's amusing comments still hold true today. For instance: "Like many of those who support the Communist side, (Davies) does not seem to consider it necessary to argue logically." And "Liberals are in favor of a different set of laws for those they hate and for those they like."

Some examples of the author's perceptions of the Soviet system: "the Russian people are subjects, not citizens, and have no means whatsoever of voicing their views, or influencing their government...Soviet power does not rest on the will of the people, their silence and acquiescence have been obtained by the fearful penalties imposed on anyone who opposes or criticizes the regime. "

and

"...the Soviet system must expand if it is to continue to exist, because it is economically so wasteful and inefficient that it cannot survive without loot or tribute and fresh supplies of slave labor, and because the men in the Kremlin constantly fear that those they oppress will be tempted to revolt by the influence of a free world outside the Soviet Empire."

Then there are Ms. Utley's observations about the media bias: "Most newspapers, and nearly all other media of public information, so far as China was concerned, were firmly in the hands of a minority of writers, professors, lecturers representing the pro-Chinese Communist views of the State Dept."

And she supplies supporting evidence for her observations.

I could go on and on with examples. Every page is full of facts and figures, and Ms. Utley's savvy insights. She gives a good analysis of the Tydings Committee fiasco and does remarkably well identifying Communist spies in a "current events" setting. She also adroitly identifies the Communist lean in the media.

My only complaint about the book is that I would have liked a much more detailed index to make is easier to look up a specific name/policy etc. There IS an index - it just might have contained more entries.

A great read and a decent reference book for anyone interested in this period of history - or even in the mechanics of government and media politics - and the horrific impact they can have on history.

My copy of the book is the 1951 hard cover published by Henry Regnery Company with 274 pages. Below listed is The China Story table of contents to help the reader determine if this book is of interest to them.

Milestones on the Road to Korea
Too Little Too Late - the Facts about "Aid to China"
Four Hundred Million Lost Allies
How and Why War Came to Korea
How the Communists Captured the Diplomats
...and the Secretary of State
...and the Public
Senator McCarthy's Charges - and the Tydings Committee
The Case of Owen Lattimore
Time for Re-examination