762.9411/188
The British Chargé (Butler) to the Adviser on Political delations (Hornbeck)
Dear Dr. Hornbeck: Below is the text of the telegram, dated November 19th, addressed to the Foreign Office by His Majesty’s Ambassador at Chungking, of which you told me this morning that you would be glad to have a copy.
“Yesterday Chiang Kai Shek told me in strict confidence that immediately after Molotoff’s visit to Berlin Ribbentrop had sent for the Chinese Ambassador97 and had made a statement to him in the following sense.
Germany now controlled the whole of Europe (Italy was not mentioned). War would be over by the end of this year or at the latest early spring. China was advised to make early peace with Japan and to join the Axis. This was her last chance of admission to the fold. If she refused to make peace Japan would recognise Wang Ching Wei and Italy would follow her example. In these circumstances it would be impossible for Germany to refrain from acting in concert with her allies.”
Yours sincerely,
- Chen Chieh.↩