893.24/979: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 2—6:20 a.m.]
598. 1. The Chief of the Chinese General Staff, General Ho Ying-chin, recently approached our Assistant Military Attaché informally, saying that he had heard that following the World War France had sent a quantity of artillery to the United States in partial payment of the French war debts and that he therefore desired to ascertain whether it would be possible for China to purchase some of this artillery, particularly 75’s and mountain guns, the number of pieces to be purchased, if available, being dependent on the price at which they could be obtained.
2. When I saw General Ho about 3 weeks ago he mentioned that the Chinese Army is in urgent need of the types of artillery referred to above.
3. I assume that if the Chinese authorities are seriously interested in the purchase of artillery equipment in the United States they will instruct their representatives in Washington to approach the appropriate American quarters in the matter. However, if the Department could see fit to ascertain whether equipment of the types mentioned is in fact available for sale to China, I should be glad to communicate that information to General Ho.