Office of the Historian

793.94/16327: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, November 23, 1940—noon.
[Received 8:54 p.m.]

583. My 524, October 17, 7 p.m.12

1.
The Military Attaché of the British Embassy informed our Assistant Military Attaché on November 20 that contrary to earlier policy [Page 696] the British Government has in recent months given considerable thought to the formulation of means for the granting of assistance to China, having come to the conclusion that the collapse of Chinese resistance would have a serious effect on the British position in the Far East. He said that the idea of sending a British military mission to China had been explored and abandoned for the reason that it was realized that such a mission could be of little assistance to China.
2.
The informant asserted that Great Britain recognized that China’s most urgent need at present is aircraft and artillery which Great Britain is now not in a position to supply. But it is hoped that it will be possible to furnish China with planes when Great Britain’s aircraft production reaches higher levels; in the meantime the British plan to conduct a study of Chinese air fields with a view to ascertaining their capacities and limitations.
3.
The British Attaché went on to say that the British Embassy here had cabled a recommendation to London that it be authorized to approach Chiang Kai-shek and ascertain precisely what he wishes Great Britain to do in the way of providing aid; no reply has been received although the cable had been despatched 10 days previously.
4.
According to the assertion of the informant, the British Embassy in Chungking is in favor of all possible British assistance to China.

Sent to the Department only.

Johnson
  1. Ante, p. 427.↩