790.00/5–2954: Telegram
No. 202
The Ambassador in the Republic of
China (Rankin) to the Department of
State
649. Taipei’s 640.1 President Chiang asked me to see him last night in company with Van Fleet2 and McNeil.3 He returned immediately [Page 438] to subject of proposed bilateral US–China security pact and evidenced great disappointment and disillusionment over what he understood to be present US position. After reviewing points made in referenced telegram he added following remarks:
- 1.
- Failure of Japanese to conquer China in eight years of warfare does not mean Nationalist landing on mainland would not succeed. Japanese in 1937 were far stronger militarily than Chinese Reds today and free China is now stronger than Nanking Government of that date. But Japanese were alien invaders while China in 1937 was strong in national unity and leadership as in free China today.
- 2.
- Political and moral factors have weight of 70 as compared with 30 for military considerations under present circumstances. China mainland was lost due in large part to withdrawal of US political and moral support.
Request this telegram and Embassy’s 640 be shown to Van Fleet when he arrives in Washington about June 2.
- Telegram 640 from Taipei, May 24, summarized views expressed by Chiang Kai-shek in several conversations between May 13 and 24 with Lt. Gen. James A. Van Fleet and Secretary of Defense Wilson. It reported that Chiang had urged a series of security pacts linking the United States and the Republic of China with Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines and had particularly urged the conclusion of a bilateral U.S.–Chinese security pact. (790.00/5–2454) For text of telegram 640, see vol. xii, Part 1, p. 511.↩
- Van Fleet was engaged in a mission to survey the military forces of Korea, Formosa, Japan, and the Philippines and related U.S. military assistance programs.↩
- Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Wilfred J. McNeil participated in the Van Fleet Mission.↩