893.00/14610
Memorandum by Mr. George Atcheson, Jr., of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs
It is suggested that the Chinese Ambassador and Mr. T. V. Soong be requested to call at the Department and that questions be raised and comment be made to them orally along lines as follows:
[Page 609]What progress is Mr. Soong making in connection with the various matters which are related to his visit to this country?
As both the Ambassador and Mr. Soong are aware, the Government and people of the United States have a profound interest in the welfare and progress of China and are desirous of furnishing assistance to China, as to other countries which are resisting armed attack, in every way that is appropriate and practicable. As the Ambassador and Mr. Soong are also aware, the demands upon this Government for assistance are extremely heavy and, until our defense program is under full operation, will probably continue to be greater than our capacity. Meanwhile, the officers of this Government are exerting themselves to be helpful to China, as there exists a strong likelihood that the inter-relation of developments in Europe and Asia may bring about in the not distant future a period of acute crisis in anticipation of which it is essential that those countries which are taking measures of self-defense against aggression not relax their efforts.
In connection with the question of the maintenance and preservation of routes of communication into China, we have noted reports in the press of transportation difficulties connected with matters of organization and operation, apart from difficulties caused by military action. These reports have concerned both the so-called Burma Road and the route to west China from Mirs Bay. In connection with the Burma Road, these reports have contained mention of alleged inefficiency in the mechanical and administrative operation of the transport systems and mention of alleged lack of cooperation among the various Chinese authorities who have charge of that system. We have noted that the Chinese Government has taken steps to obtain the services of Mr. John Earl Baker in connection with transportation problems. As regards the question of defense of bridges and other vital points, reports have contained mention of the lack of effort on the part of the Chinese military forces to protect those points by defense in the air or by well-planned anti-aircraft defense. In connection with the Mirs Bay route, there have been reports, both official and press, that large quantities of supplies were abandoned by withdrawing Chinese forces.
Current reports refer to Japanese military operations in the Pakhoi region apparently aimed at further disruption of communications. The reports indicate a lack of Chinese resistance.
We have also been concerned over reports of dissension between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist forces. Chinese unity has, as the Ambassador and Mr. Soong are aware, comprised one of the principal factors in our policy toward China for many years and this Government’s interest in the progressive maintenance of Chinese unity continues. Indeed, the importance of the maintenance of Chinese [Page 610] unity cannot be overestimated at the present serious juncture in world affairs.
It might be remarked, incidentally, that there appears to have grown in this country a belief, engendered by news correspondents and others sympathetic to China, that in the hostilities between China and Japan the latter already stands in the position of loser. In our opinion this assumption is based more upon wishful thinking than upon concrete fact. It seems obvious that, while the Japanese may not have won, they have not yet been defeated by the Chinese. The purpose of making mention of this particular matter is to indicate, in the friendliest way, that it occurs to us that it would be in our opinion most unfortunate if Chinese leaders should become overconfident or complacent and as a result should relax the magnificent efforts which they have over a long period and under adverse conditions put forth in resisting armed attack upon their country. We wish to stress our opinion that an even more critical juncture in world affairs may occur, and it is obvious that the struggle against aggression in the Far East and elsewhere has not yet been won. We believe wholeheartedly that the cause in which we believe will win, but we attempt to view the entire picture with a sense of realism and objectivity. We accordingly must realize that continuing and even greater effort on the part of all who have common interest in that cause will be necessary before the day we anticipate will come.
- Revised March 6, 1941.↩