893.51/6768: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 10—9:55 a.m.]
23. In the course of a conversation with Colonel Chennault, American Aviation Adviser, January 9, 9 p.m., he referred to press reports that a portion of the $25,000,000 credit recently granted to the Universal Trading Corporation was being used to finance sale of hundreds of motor vehicles for use on the Burma Highway and on the basis of his observation of the Chinese use of foreign mechanical equipment he expressed the opinion that, if the report were true, it was highly desirable to provide for American supervision of the use of these vehicles. Such supervision should include the construction of filling stations, roadway stations, and especially of the training of Chinese drivers whose generally unintelligent use and care of motor vehicles ordinarily made them useless in 6 months in severe service conditions. However, he foresaw the Chinese might be unwilling to accept such foreign supervision since the usual attitude of the Chinese authorities toward foreign advisers was one of arrogance, jealousy, and non-cooperation at least so far as concerned Chinese military officers. He said that there was a considerable force of Russian aviators operating Russian planes on duty in China but this force was comparatively inactive because the Chinese failed to cooperate loyally in tactical operations. I have not discussed with any Chinese the charge often made by foreign critics that the Chinese will not listen to advice nor give effective cooperation, but I am inclined to think that if freight traffic on the Burma highway is controlled by the civil branch of the Chinese Government, it might be possible to introduce foreign supervision and that it would be highly useful.