793.94/17014½
Memorandum by Mr. John P. Davies, Jr., of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs
The underlying transcript of a radio address made by Madame Chiang Kai-shek on October 1058 reveals as clearly as anything I have recently seen coming out of China the psychological results upon China of certain phases of our policy or lack of policy toward that country.
Madame Chiang’s speech reveals a conflict which in varying forms exists in all Chinese who are at all currently informed, including a surprisingly large number of the coolie class—a conflict between (a) gratitude for the great work of American relief and charity organizations and (b) a bitter resentment at our sale over a period of four years of war materials to Japan (I encountered this feeling even among persons identified with the “puppet” regimes). A second major conflict is one between (a) appreciation of the recognition, implicit in the Lend-Lease program, of China as a partner with the United States and Great Britain and (b) deep disappointment and uneasiness at not being kept promptly and fully informed and not being consulted with regard to Far Eastern matters and at the apparently studious avoidance of mention of China in many of the major American pronouncements with regard to the fight against aggression. It is evident that the Chinese feel that we have treated them in a cavalier fashion and that we have made them lose face, all of which has had a damaging effect upon their morale.
The portions of Madame Chiang’s speech revealing this psychological condition have been underlined. The most significant are perhaps:
“We feel that we have earned equality of status with the other democracies, but we do not want it granted to us in charity. … We have an indispensable right to be consulted and to make our voice heard when others deliberate about Asia and the Pacific. We are the senior nation in the stand against aggression, therefore we ought not to be treated as a junior in the common councils of the anti-aggression [Page 553] nations. … We cannot rest secure until you unreservedly recognize our right to take our full share of responsibility in planning a world order that will prevent future aggression. … We in China believe that you are now fully aware of the futility of trying to preserve democracy in one corner of the world at the expense of nations struggling for democracy in other parts of the world.”59