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Behind the Bamboo Curtain: US Ambassadors to China, 1945-1957

Pavalko, Nathan L.

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Arts in History, Youngstown State University, Department of Humanities.

John Leighton Stuart and Karl Lott Rankin were ambassadors to China during the years 1945 until 1957. Stuart, who was assigned to mainland China for the entire four years of his ambassadorship (1945-1949), was primarily concerned with forming a coalition government between the Guomindang or Chinese Nationalists Party (GMD) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). His successor, Karl Lott Rankin, was assigned briefly to the mainland, but was moved to the island of Taiwan after the Communist takeover on October 1, 1949. For the duration of his ambassadorship (1949-1957) Rankin was primarily responsible for keeping the peace between the CCP and the GMD. Both men not only reported about events in their respective regions, but also gave their opinions about US strategy in the region.

Through the examination of telegrams, letters, and memoirs, the author examines how the opinions of Ambassadors Rankin and Stuart differed from those State Department officials as well as the Presidents of the United States in the time period examined. The author will attempt to conclude whether or not Rankin's and Stuart's opinions were taken into consideration when forming foreign policy in the region. If their opinions were not taken into consideration the author will examine why.

Brian Bonhomme, PhD (Committee Chair)
William Jenkins, PhD (Committee Member)
David Simonelli, PhD (Committee Member)
183 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pavalko, N. L. (2009). Behind the Bamboo Curtain: US Ambassadors to China, 1945-1957 [Master's thesis, Youngstown State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1264772946

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pavalko, Nathan. Behind the Bamboo Curtain: US Ambassadors to China, 1945-1957. 2009. Youngstown State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1264772946.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pavalko, Nathan. "Behind the Bamboo Curtain: US Ambassadors to China, 1945-1957." Master's thesis, Youngstown State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1264772946

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)