893.20/708
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) of a Conversation With the First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy (Tsui)
I asked Mr. Tsui to call in reference to the subject matter of his conversation with Mr. Ballantine97 on December 27 relating to the [Page 774] Chinese Government’s desire to obtain the services of American aviators as instructors for the Chinese Government’s Aviation Academy at Kunming.
I told Mr. Tsui, with regard to officers on the active list of the American Army or Navy or with regard to reserve officers, that we should prefer to receive no request in the matter from the Chinese Government and that if we did receive such a request our attitude would have to be unfavorable. With regard to persons not connected with the American Army or Navy, I told Mr. Tsui that this was in our opinion a private matter between the Chinese Government and the American individuals. I said that I assumed that there was not involved any question of American citizens enlisting in the combat forces of the Chinese Government or participating in hostilities. Mr. Tsui said that this assumption was correct. I then suggested that the Chinese Embassy might care to get in touch with Colonel Jouett of the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce. I said also that I had heard that Colonel Chennault, who is employed by the Chinese Government as an aviation adviser and instructor, was now in this country and might be of some assistance to the Chinese Government and the Chinese Embassy in their desire to obtain the services of properly qualified persons.
Note: I had previously discussed this matter with Mr. Hornbeck who had expressed concurrence in the nature of the replies which I made to Mr. Tsui.
- Joseph W. Ballantine, Assistant Chief, Division of Far Eastern Affairs.↩