893.248/209½
The Department of State to the Chinese Embassy23
Oral Statement
1. This Government has recently taken steps toward making available to China within the comparatively near future fifty modern [Page 706] military aircraft and is giving its best thought and attention to the problem of making a substantial additional number of airplanes available as soon as practicable.
On November 30 the President announced that this Government contemplated a credit to the Chinese Government of $100,000,000.
The action with regard to airplanes and the action with regard to credits were not easy to arrange. Their accomplishment presented very real difficulties and sacrifices. They constitute solid and very substantial assistance to China. Their importance will be recognized by all.
2. The Chinese Government is aware that it is a traditional policy of the United States to avoid entering into alliances or entangling commitments.
With regard to the question of a British-Chinese alliance, it is difficult to see how this Government, in the light of its traditional policy, could appropriately assume any initiative in regard to any such alliance. The question of entering into such an alliance is obviously a matter essentially for decision by the British and the Chinese Governments.
3. With regard to the question of American aviators’ proceeding to China, Sections 21 and 22 of Title 18, U. S. Code, provide penalties for entry or the hiring of others for entry into the armed forces of a foreign state when such acts are committed within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, but there is no penalty in the general laws of the United States where citizens of the United States go abroad and while abroad enter the armed forces of a foreign state. Moreover, the question of the liability of young men (and perhaps particularly aviators trained in war flying) to service in the armed forces of the United States under the Selective Service Law25 would presumably have to be considered and disposed of prior to the departure from the United States of American aviators for service in foreign countries.
The Department of State would probably issue passports to American citizens who desire to proceed to China for the purpose of serving as aviation instructors.
4. With regard to the question of the issuance of an official statement setting forth the principles to which this Government is committed in relations with the countries of the Far East, a draft statement of this character was prepared for consideration and for possible issuance on the day when Japan signed a treaty with the regime at Nanking (November 30).26 If it had not been possible to announce [Page 707] on November 30 the extension to China of the $100,000,000 credit, further consideration would have been given to the question of issuing such a statement on that day. When it developed that announcement of the credit on that day was feasible, it was decided, for various reasons, including the undesirability in our opinion of according undue attention to Japan’s action in signing a treaty with the Nanking regime, that it seemed preferable not to issue any new public statement relating to the attitude and position of this Government. The Secretary of State at his press conference on that day replied to inquirers by referring them to the public statement which he had made on March 3027 at the time of the setting up of the Nanking regime. The statement of March 30, it will be recalled, states categorically that the Government of the United States continues to recognize the National Government of the Republic of China with capital now at Chungking as the Government of China. The principles in which the American Government and the American people believe and their attitude and position toward the Far Eastern situation have been made clear repeatedly in official statements. They are well-known to the whole world. The action taken by the Government of the United States in announcing on November 30, the day when the Japanese signed a treaty with the Nanking regime, the contemplated extension of a $100,000,000 credit to the Chinese Government, constitutes unmistakable and emphatic evidence that the Government of the United States recognizes as the Government of China the Government now functioning at Chungking and that the Government of the United States continues to adhere firmly to its often declared attitude and position with regard to the Far East.
The present is a time when in our opinion actions are more important than words. We believe also that in many instances the most effective and desirable results are likely to be achieved by permitting the actions to speak for themselves.
5. As indicated above, the question of endeavoring to make it possible for the Chinese Government to purchase in this country an additional and substantial number of airplanes is receiving our best attention. This will not be an easy matter to arrange. The needs are many and great, and the supply is not sufficient to meet all demands. However, there is sincere appreciation of the position of the Chinese Government, and the Chinese Government can rest assured that there is earnest intention on the part of the American Government to do everything it appropriately and practicably can.
The appropriate officers and agencies of this Government will, of course, be glad to continue to discuss with the Chinese Ambassador [Page 708] and Mr. T. V. Soong such other aspects of the suggestions made by Chiang Kai-shek as are not covered by the comments made above.
6. It is requested that the substance of the foregoing be communicated by the Chinese Ambassador and Mr. T. V. Soong to their Government.
- The Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) and the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck), under instruction, talked in the sense of this statement in conversation with the Chinese Ambassador (Hu Shih) and Dr. Soong on December 4.↩
- Approved September 16; 54 Stat. 885.↩
- For text, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 117.↩
- See Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 59.↩