845C.7793/20
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 7.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose memorandum8 of a conversation with Mr. Tseng Yang-fu, Director General of the Yunnan section of the Yunnan–Burma Railway, who states that if (1) the Burma section of the railway can be completed by July or August, 1942, and (2) delivery can be had of rails and equipment from the United States by the end of 1941 or very soon thereafter, the railway line from Burma can be completed to Hsiangyun by the end of 1942, and to Kunming, six months later.
Mr. Tseng has been consulting with the British Ambassador in reference to the Burma section of the railway. The British, apparently, have estimated that two years will be required for its completion. [Page 667] Mr. Tseng has urged that that part of the line be completed within one year and states that he has offered to supply Chinese engineering and labor assistance or to take over the construction should the British so desire.
Mr. Tseng urged that the United States impress upon the British Government the necessity of measures for the early completion of the British section of the railway.
Mention was made by Mr. Tseng of a desire to obtain the services of first-class American civil and mechanical engineers in connection, particularly, with the operation of the Chinese section of the railway.
A further object of Mr. Tseng’s visit to the Embassy was in the matter of health conditions along the route of the Chinese section of the Burma–Yunnan Railway. He expressed the desire that the American Government undertake this problem, which, in my opinion, will be of outstanding importance if this strategic rail life-line for the supply of military materials for China is to be provided. I suggested that Mr. Tseng examine the report of the specialists of the United States Public Health Service who made a survey of epidemic conditions along the Burma highway more than a year ago, and then, after consulting the National Health Administration and formulating recommendations, he might put those recommendations before the Chinese mission at Washington. I stated that I should be glad to consult with Mr. Tseng further when he has formulated his recommendations, and to report his proposals to the Department of State at the same time that he might present them to the Chinese mission at Washington.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩