893.248/190
The President of the Chinese Executive Yuan (Chiang) to the Secretary of the Treasury (Morgenthau)35
Most grateful for your message.36 Although the Italians are hard pressed we have information from sources of proved reliability that the Axis Powers are going through with their plan of synchronized attempts to take Gibraltar, the Suez and Singapore in the Spring.
In order to cope with the threat on Singapore it is necessary for us to carry the war into Japan proper. For that purpose I am most anxious to acquire as many of your latest Flying Fortresses as you could spare, which from our air bases could effectively bomb all the vital centers of Japan, and harass their fleet and transports. The effect of this upon the Japanese people who are already much divided and dispirited will certainly be far reaching.
The Flying Fortresses should be complemented by a proportionate number of pursuits and medium bombers, so that the air force thus constituted could also support the counter-offensive which I am preparing with a view of retaking Canton and Hankow, and of forcing the Japanese to recall their troops, transports and airplanes from the contemplated attack on Singapore, the safety of which is as vital to us as to the British.
I earnestly hope you will support me in presenting these views to President Roosevelt so that a decision will be made in time for us to block the Japanese move.