Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The Far East, Volume IV

711.93/459

The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Wang) to the American Ambassador in China (Johnson)⁶

undated

Sino-Anglo-American Plan of Co-operation

In view of their common interests and their common mission to maintain peace in the Pacific and in order to carry out the identical principles which they uphold, China, Great Britain and the United States should recognize the necessity of close co-operation between them, and it is with this in view that the following Plan is submitted.

I. Principles:

1. To insist on the principles of the Open Door and the maintenance of China’s sovereignty and territorial and administrative integrity, as contained in the Nine Power Treaty.

2. To oppose Japan’s attempt to establish “a new order in East Asia” or “a new order in Greater East Asia”.

3. To recognize the fact that only on the foundation of a free and independent China can peace be built in the Far East, and normal and orderly relations be established between nations in the whole Pacific.

II. Procedure:

1. China, Great Britain and the United States to issue a Joint Declaration stating, inter alia, that for the purpose of carrying out their obligations under the Nine Power Treaty and guaranteeing peace in the Pacific, they recognize the three principles mentioned above as constituting their common cause.

2. Great Britain and the United States to issue a Joint Declaration stating, inter alia, that the three principles mentioned above constitute their common cause and that they therefore will do their utmost to help China maintain her sovereignty and territorial and administrative integrity and to restore international peace and order.

Note: It will be for Great Britain and the United States to consider and decide whether to adopt Formula 1 or Formula 2 as outlined above.

III. China and Great Britain to conclude an alliance and to secure the adherence of the United States; and, in the absence of such adherence, to secure the approval and support of this alliance by the United States.

IV. Concrete measures for mutual assistance (To be agreed upon before the issuance of the Joint Declaration).

1. After the issuance of the Declaration, Great Britain and the United States to make a joint loan or separate loans to China with a view to maintaining China’s foreign exchange and national currency; the total amount of such loans to be from 200,000,000 to 300,000,000 United States dollars.

2. The United States to sell to China, in the form of credit loans, from 500 to 1000 fighting planes each year, and to deliver to China from 200 to 300 fighting planes before the end of 1940. In addition, Great Britain and the United States to supply China with other kinds of military equipment; the specifications and the quantities of such equipment to be agreed upon.

3. Great Britain and the United States to send to China military, economic and communications missions for the purpose of establishing an organization of co-operation concerning the Far East in conjunction with the Chinese Government. The members of such missions may be appointed by the Chinese Government as advisers.

4. In the event of hostilities breaking out between Great Britain and/or the United States on the one hand and Japan on the other, the whole Chinese Army will participate in these hostilities and all the aerodromes in China will be placed at the disposal of the allied forces.

6. Handed to the Ambassador on November 9; copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his covering despatch No. 694, November 11; received November 30. See telegram No. 568, November 9, 5 p.m., supra.